Rotational temperatures of N2(C,0) and OH(A,0) as gas temperature estimates in the middle pressure Ar/O2 discharge

Radiative transitions N2(C–B,0–0) and OH(A–X,0–0) were used in order to estimate rotational temperatures of N2(C,0) and OH(A,0) in the middle pressure Ar/0.5% O2 RF discharge. N2(C,0) and OH(A,0) rotational temperature dependence on power density was determined and quenching/rotational relaxation frequencies of N2(C,0) and OH(A,0) were calculated. It was found that under our conditions rotational temperature of OH(A,0) can be used for estimation of gas temperature while N2(C,0) rotational temperature overestimates the gas temperature.