TRANSITION-PROBABILITY MEASUREMENT IN AN AR-II PLASMA

This work reports a collection of 200 Ar II transition probabilities o f lines in the spectral region 360-750 nm for 16 lifetime values, all of them measured in an emission experiment. Relative intensity measure ments have been made on a pulsed discharge lamp and the absolute A(ki) values have been obtained by using data taken from the literature. Th e electron density, which ranges from 0.2 to 1.0 x 10(23) m(-3) in the plasma, has been determined simultaneously by interferometry and from H-alpha-Stark broadening. The Ar II excitation temperature (15000-270 00 K) has been calculated by a new method which also provides transiti on probabilities and plasma composition. The high number of measuremen ts has allowed us to properly discuss the plasma equilibrium model. Co mparisons have been made with the most recent experimental and theoret ical data collections.