The role of time-dependent metastables in the modeling of low-temperature argon plasmas using newly calculated theoretical cross sections

Abstract

Neutral argon is an important element in a wide range of low-temperature plasma applications. The time-dependent role of Argon metastables on emission is investigated and shown to play a vital role on the Auburn Linear eXperiment for Instability Studies (ALEXIS) plasma device at Auburn University due to neutral Argon transport. To this end, new atomic data is generated, and the cross-section results are compared with experimental apparent cross-section measurements and theoretical data. As further validation, spectral modeling using the theoretical data in a collisional-radiative model is performed and compared with observations from the ALEXIS plasma device at Auburn University for wavelengths ranging from 725 nm to 845 nm.