Simultaneous time-averaged measurements of gas temperature and electron density in a copper-vapor laser using hydrogen emission spectroscopy

Measurements of the gas temperature and electron density in the plasma of a 100 W copper-vapor laser are presented. These parameters are simultaneously deduced from the Doppler and Stark broadening of the first four Balmer lines of the hydrogen atom emission. The analysis of the Doppler and Stark broadening involves evaluation of all other line-broadening mechanisms, including natural, pressure (van der Waals and resonance), instrumental, self-absorption, and fine-structure splitting. Iterative algorithm is employed to deconvolve the different line-shape components. The longitudinally integrated, time-averaged temperature and electron density are measured along the laser axis and found to be 4300 K and 1.3 × 10¹³ cm^-3, respectively.