Rotational temperatures of N2(C,0) and OH(A,0) as gas temperature estimates in the middle pressure Ar/O2 discharge

Radiative transitions N-2(C-B,0-0) and OH(A-X,0-0) were used in order to estimate rotational temperatures of N-2(C,0) and OH(A,0) in the middle pressure Ar/0.5% O-2 RF discharge. N-2(C,0) and OH(A, 0) rotational temperature dependence on power density was determined and quenching/rotational relaxation frequencies of N-2(C,0) and OH(A,0) were calculated. It was found that under our conditions rotational temperature of OH(A,0) can be used for estimation of gas temperature while N-2(C,0) rotational temperature overestimates the gas temperature.