Rotational temperatures of N₂(C,0) and OH(A,0) as gas temperature estimates in the middle pressure Ar/O₂ discharge

Abstract

Radiative transitions N 2 ( C – B ,0–0) and OH( A – X ,0–0) were used in order to estimate rotational temperatures of N 2 ( C ,0) and OH( A ,0) in the middle pressure Ar/0.5% O 2 RF discharge. N 2 ( C ,0) and OH( A ,0) rotational temperature dependence on power density was determined and quenching/rotational relaxation frequencies of N 2 ( C ,0) and OH( A ,0) were calculated. It was found that under our conditions rotational temperature of OH( A ,0) can be used for estimation of gas temperature while N 2 ( C ,0) rotational temperature overestimates the gas temperature.