Comparison of high-resolution electric field measurements in a hollow cathode glow-discharge operated in hydrogen and deuterium

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part B: Atomic spectroscopy Vol. 180; p. 106194
• Main Authors: Gonzalez-Fernandez, V., Steiger, A., de la Rosa, M.I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.06.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Analytical methods; Cathode glow; Cathode region; Cathodes; Deuterium; Discharge dynamics; Doppler sonar; Electric field; Electric field strength; Electric fields; Gas discharges; High resolution; Hollow cathodes; Hydrogen; Isotopes; Laser spectroscopy; Lasers; Resolution; Spectroscopy; Stark effect; Deuterium; Electric field; Discharge dynamics; Hydrogen; Laser spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0584-8547; 1873-3565
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sab.2021.106194

High-resolution measurements of the electric field strength in a hollow cathode discharge operated with deuterium gas are presented. The electric field strength is determined via Stark effect splitting of the 2S level of deuterium atoms using Doppler-free two-photon laser spectroscopy. The results are compared with equivalent measurements when the discharge was operated in hydrogen. The measured electric fields are analyzed using two classical models to obtain valuable parameters about the discharge dynamics, such as the energy of the ions and their mean free path in the cathode region. This information is compared with previous results for hydrogen and allows insight into the differences when gas discharges are operated with one of the isotopes. [Display omitted] •Measuring high-resolution electric field strength falls in deuterium plasma.•Applying classical models to high resolution deuterium electric field strength falls.•Approaching to the dynamics of a deuterium discharge.•Obtaining parameters such as the ions energy or their mean free path of deuterium.•Stablishing a comparative between hydrogen and deuterium discharge dynamics.