Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Measurement and Analysis of Atomic Hydrogen and Diatomic Molecular AlO, C2, CN, and TiO Spectra Following Laser-induced Optical Breakdown
Published on: February 14, 2014
Balmer series Hbeta measurements in a laser-induced hydrogen plasma
Christian G Parigger1, David H Plemmons, Eugene Oks
1Center for Laser Applications, The University of Tennessee Space Institute, 411 B.H. Goethert Parkway, Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388, USA. cparigge@utsi.edu
Abstract:
Stark-broadened emission profiles of the Balmer series Hbeta lines are measured subsequent to nanosecond laser-induced optical breakdown in gaseous hydrogen. Electron number densities are found from time-resolved spectra from Hbeta emissions to be in the range 10(15)-10(18) cm(-3). These results are compared with Halpha measurements for which number densities as high as 10(19) cm(-3) are determined from Stark widths and Stark shifts. Good agreement is reported for number densities inferred from Halpha and Hbeta emissions, down to an electron number density 3 x 10(16) cm(-3), by accurate treatment of ion dynamics in the theory.

