Spectral Study of Glow Discharge With Dusty Structures

We present the results of the experimental study of the influence of dusty structures on plasma. We have studied glow discharges in neon and argon (Ar) with Al
₂
O
₃
polydisperse particles and melamine-formaldehyde monodisperse particles with the diameter of 4.83 μm. We used optical emission spectroscopy and laser-induced fluorescence methods to measure shift of excited atoms populations, which led to similar results. In most cases, the population change was negligible as compared to the inaccuracy. Al
₂
O
₃
particles in Ar formed large structures which caused dramatic redistribution of radiation. In this case, spectral lines and fluorescence became 9%-50% weaker at the tube center after dusty structure formation. It might be accounted for by a decrease of electron density due to recombination on the surfaces of the particles. Near the tube wall, the radiation became brighter due to an electron temperature increase. Photographs of the discharge allowed us to calculate the radial distribution of the population shift.