Multiple diagnostics in a high-pressure hydrogen microwave plasma torch

We present an experimental study of a hydrogen plasma produced by a microwave axial injection torch, launching the plasma in a helium-filled chamber. Three different diagnostic methods have been used to obtain the electron density and temperature as follows: The Stark intersection method of Balmer spectral lines (already tested in argon and helium plasmas); the modified Boltzmann-plot showing that the plasma is far from the local thermodynamic equilibrium but ruled by the excitation-saturation balance; and a study by the disturbed bilateral relations theory. All of these diagnostic techniques show a good agreement.