Measurement of excitation temperature and electron density in capillary Z-pinch argon plasma

The pressure dependence of excitation temperature (Texc) and electron density (ne) versus time was investigated to understand the characteristics of capillary Z-pinch argon (Ar) plasma. Measured profiles of several Ar lines were used to calculate Te and ne. Te measured by Boltzmann plot method has a maximum of ∼2.4 eV ne obtained from the Stark broadened line of Ar II wavelength 422.816 nm was ∼1017 cm−3. Conditions in our system meet the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), so using LTE to calculate Te and ne is valid in our system.