To cite this version:C Aragón, P Vega, J A Aguilera. Stark width measurements of Fe II lines with wavelengths in the range 260300 nm. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, IOP Publishing, 2011, 44 (5) Abstract. The Stark widths of 21 Fe II lines with wavelengths in the range 260-300 nm have been measured using laser-induced plasmas as spectroscopic sources. A set of Fe-Cu samples has been employed to generate the plasmas. To reduce self-absorption, each line has been measured using a different sample, with an iron concentration determined by means of the curve-of-growth methodology. The remaining error due to self-absorption has been estimated as lower than 10 %. Different instants of the plasma evolution, from 0.84 µs to 2.5 µs are included in the measurements. The electron density, in the range (1.6-7.3)×10 17 cm -3 , is determined by the Stark broadening of the H line. Within this range, the Stark widths are found to be proportional to the electron density. The Boltzmann plot method is used to obtain the plasma temperature, which is in the range 12900-15200 K. The Stark widths obtained have been compared with available experimental and theoretical data.

A compact magnetically boosted radiofrequency glow discharge (GD) has been designed, constructed and its analytical potential evaluated by its coupling to a mass spectrometer (MS). Simple modifications to the original source configuration permitted the insertion of permanent magnets. Small cylindrical Nd-Fe-B magnets (diameter = 4 mm, h = 10 mm) were placed in an in-house-modified GD holder disc that allows easy and fast exchange of the magnets. The different processes taking place within the GD plasma under the influence of a magnetic field, such as sputtering, ionisation processes and ion transport into the MS, were studied using different GD operating conditions. Changes to the ionisation and ion transport efficiency caused by the magnetic field were studied using an rf-GD-TOFMS setup. A magnetic field of 60-75 gauss (G) was found not to affect the sputtering rates but to enhance the analyte ion signal intensities while decreasing the Ar species ion signals. Moreover, magnetic fields in this range were shown not to modify the crater shapes, enabling the fast and sensitive high depth resolved analysis of relatively thick coated samples (micrometre) by using the designed compact magnetically boosted rf-GD-TOFMS.

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