Experimental characterization of the asymmetry and the dip form of the Hβ-line profiles in microwave-produced plasmas at atmospheric pressure

An experimental study on the asymmetry of the Balmer Hβ profile in plasmas produced by microwaves at atmospheric pressure is presented. The asymmetry of the whole profile is studied with the help of one function that quantified this characteristic. The asymmetry and shape of the central valley is also studied with the definition of several parameters. The study shows the presence of the Stark asymmetry in plasmas with electron density of the order of 1021m−3.