Widening of spectral lines in an Ar⁺laser

In this paper an investigation of the spectral line widths and shifts of Ar I and Ar II lines in argon ion laser plasma is carried out. The discharge-tube internal diameters were 5 and 7 mm, the current densities were 113, 163, and 242 A/cm2, and the pressures were 0.68, 0.42, and 0.23 torr. Approximate calculations were made of ion and electron temperatures, electron density, ion mean free path, and charge-exchange cross section. It was determined that ion-neutral charge-exchange collisions play an important role in this type of plasma.