Non-Boltzmann distribution among energy levels of singly-ionized vanadium in dc glow discharge and rf inductively coupled discharge plasmas

Abstract

The Boltzmann plots of ionic vanadium lines are investigated using an Ar glow discharge plasma as well as an inductively coupled plasma. Departures from a linear plot are observed with both of the plasmas, meaning that LTE conditions are not realized. It results from increased population of the 3d³(a ⁴F)4d ⁵H levels to which the V II 264.433 and 265.565 nm lines are assigned, which could be explained from resonance charge-transfer collisions between vanadium atom and argon ion.