Measuring of electric fields with laser-induced fluorescence-dip Stark spectroscopy

The electric field is an important quantity in low-pressure gas discharges, driving many fundamental processes. Unfortunately, it is difficult to measure electric field distributions in plasmas directly. The goal of this research was to develop a diagnostic technique to measure electric fields in low-pressure xenon discharges. It was based on measuring Stark effects in Rydberg levels of xenon atoms by laser-induced fluorescence-dip spectroscopy. With our experimental arrangement we could measure electric fields ranging from 1000 to 4000 V/cm with an accuracy between 150 and 300 V/cm.