Application of quantum cascade lasers in studies of low-pressure plasmas: Characterization of rapid passage effects on density and temperature measurements

The application of quantum cascade lasers in the intrapulse operation mode for low-pressure plasma spectroscopy is hampered by the observation of rapid passage effects, leading to lower quantitative accuracy. We demonstrate that accurate densities and rotational temperatures of CH(4) within a CH(4) plasma can be obtained by characterizing the rapid passage effects in gas phase conditions prior to carrying out the plasma measurements. Furthermore, we show that the ratios of the integrated absorption of two transitions are not affected by the rapid passage effect and, thus, rotational temperatures of species can be obtained. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.