Laser plasma diagnostics and self-absorption measurements of the Hβ Balmer series line

- Apply Hβ peak-separation method to measure electron density.
- Discuss plasma diagnosis in standard ambient temperature and pressure air.
- Peak-separation method compares well with symmetric full-profile Hβ fitting.
- Hβ self-absorption effects are minimal for electron densities of the order of 1×1017cm−3.

In this work, the peak-separation of the Balmer series hydrogen beta line was measured to determine the electron density of laser-induced plasma from spatially and temporally resolved spectra collected in laboratory air at standard ambient temperature and pressure. The self-absorption phenomenon is investigated by using a mirror that retro-reflects the emitted radiation through the plasma. The experimental data with and without the mirror were analyzed with available hydrogen beta computer simulations. Hardly any self-absorption was found as indicated by the correction factors that only marginally differ from unity. The obtained electron density values are also compared with the electron densities from nearby nitrogen lines. The hydrogen beta Hβ peak-separation method yields reliable results for an electron density of the order of 1×1017cm−3 for time delays of 5μs from plasma generation, which confirms that self-absorption is insignificant for such electron densities.