EXCITATIONAL, VIBRATIONAL, AND ROTATIONAL TEMPERATURES IN ND-YAG AND XECL LASER-INDUCED PLASMAS

Laser-induced plasmas formed on graphite by a Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm and by a XeCl laser at 308 nm were analyzed spectroscopically to deter mine vibrational, rotational, and excitation temperatures. For determi nation of vibrational and rotational temperature, the emission of the CN radical in the region between 385.1 and 388.3 nm was used to constr uct Boltzmann plots. Relative vibrational transition probabilities wer e calculated. For determination of excitation temperature, a small amo unt of lead or iron was added to the graphite target and Boltzmann plo ts were constructed using transition probabilities found in the litera ture. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.