Stark widths of several Pb III spectral lines in a laser-induced lead plasma

Dpto. Física Aplicada, EUIT Industrial, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ronda de Valencia 3, 28012 Madrid, Spain e-mail: [aurelia.alonso;cristobal.colon]@upm.es

Received: 26 July 2006
Accepted: 23 January 2007

Abstract

Context.Data on Stark widths of spectral lines are relevant not only for atomic structure research, but also for astrophysics and analytical techniques of plasma diagnosis.

Aims.Stark widths of ten doubly ionized lead spectral lines that belong to 7s–7p, 6d–7p and 6p²–7p transitions have been measured.

Methods. We observe the emission lines from an optically thin laser induced plasma from a lead target in an argon atmosphere. The studied plasma has a temperature of about 25 200 K and an electron density of about 10¹⁷ cm^-3. Local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions and plasma homogeneity have been checked. Special attention was paid to the possible selfabsorption of the different transitions.

Results.We report ten new experimental values for Stark widths (FWHM) of Pb III lines.