Stark spectroscopic measurement of spatially resolved electric field and electric field gradients in a glow discharge

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Spatially resolved Stark spectra of triplet helium Rydberg states have been measured in the cathode fall region of a normal glow discharge. It is demonstrated that Stark spectral intensity distribution of a single Stark manifold provides both the electric field and the electric field gradient. The spectra of appropriate manifolds typically are sensitive to 20 V/cm change across the width of the probe laser beam. The experimental method of determining the electric field gradient locally means that one can measure space-charge distributions in sheaths adjacent to electrodes, probes, and plasma boundaries.