Two-dimensional optical imaging spectroscopy in a dc driven Mercury-neon-argon glow discharge

Imaging spectroscopy is a powerful tool for visualization of plasma phenomena. A novel type of imaging spectrometer based on an acoustic optical tunable filter (AOTF) was used to select several emission lines for imaging from a mercury: rare gas glow discharge driven by direct current (dc) current. Images taken from this discharge show different locations of light origin for different emission lines. The spatial and wavelength resolutions of the spectrometer are evaluated.