Analysis of the measured 1S-2S Stark spectra of hydrogen isotopes used for E-field strength determination in a hollow cathode discharge

Abstract

This paper is dedicated to analyse in detail the Stark splitting spectra of the 1S – 2S transition of hydrogen isotopes, used to determine the local electric field strength in the cathode fall of a hollow cathode discharge, by measuring the Doppler free two-photon absorption via optogalvanic detection. The measured irradiance distribution in the overlap volume of the two laser beams is used to integrate the rate equations, which give the ion yield distribution with high spatial resolution. Inserting the local ion yield in the local electric field strength of the cathode fall allows reconstructing and analysing the Stark splitting spectra.