An alternative method for gas temperature determination in nitrogen plasmas:: Fits of the bands of the first positive system (B3Πg→A3Σu+)

A method of gas temperature determination in nitrogen or nitrogen doped discharges is presented. The method employs fits of numerically generated spectra of the 0-0, 1-0, and 2-0 bands of the first positive system (B (3)Pi(g)-> A (3)Sigma(+)(u)) of nitrogen to experimental measurements. Excellent agreement between gas temperature values inferred by using this method and by using the 3-0 band peak ratio method [M. Simek and S. De Benedictis, Plasma Chem. Plasma Proc. 15, 451 (1995)] is demonstrated for a helicon plasma. The spectral model is available for use by the plasma spectroscopy community. The model, along with user instructions, can be downloaded from Electronic Physics Auxiliary Publication Service of American Institute of Physics. The model includes the line positions, Honl-London factors, and provides rapid determination of gas temperature if one or more of the aforementioned emission rovibrational band spectra are available. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.