Investigation of RF-excited CO2 slab laser discharges by measuring N2 emission bands with high spatial resolution

Spectroscopic measurements of N 2 molecular bands emitted by the discharge of a sealed off test chamber and a 2 kW carbon-dioxide slab laser deliver detailed rotational temperature and intensity profiles in the gap between the electrodes as a function of different discharge parameters. The results give basic information on the behavior of the discharge and the main plasma parameters for further investigations.