Investigation of the Plasma Produced by a Normal Ionizing Shock Wave Using Polychromator Techniques

Abstract

Measurements of the electron density of a transient hydrogen plasma have been made by a study of the Stark broadening of the emitted Hfl radiation. The plasma is formed by the passage of a strong ionizing shock wave through a neutral gas in the pressure range 100 .;;; p .;;; 400 mtorr. The instantaneous Stark· broadened line profiles have been constructed by simultaneously sampling the light intensities at a number of wavelengths within the Hflline by the use of an eight. channel poly. chromator.