Stark broadening for simultaneous diagnostics of the electron density and temperature in atmospheric microwave discharges

In this paper we delimitate the use of the Stark broadening of lines spontaneously emitted by atmospheric-pressure plasmas as an indirect method to determine both the electron density and temperature in discharges produced by microwaves. This method, previously presented in a recent paper (J. Torres et al., J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 36 (2003), L55-59), allows us to obtain experimental results for these two parameters in argon discharges in good agreement with other experimental results previously reported. The possibility of extending its use to a plasmogenic gas other than argon is discussed, and the limitations of the method are pointed out.