Spatial and Spectral Distributions of the Hydrogen $\hbox {H}_{\alpha }$ Line in Dielectric-Barrier Discharges

It is shown that the optical emission method, based on measured spatial and spectral distributions of the Halpha radiation, provides valuable information on physical conditions in the volume of dielectric-barrier discharges. In the case when the registration allows the determination of light polarization, the measured spectra may provide information about the distribution of the electric-field strength in a direction that is perpendicular to the surfaces limiting the discharge volume. Visualization of the experimental data of spatial distributions of the hydrogen Halpha line is presented.