Difference in Molecular Rotational Temperatures between Neutral Molecules and Molecular Ions of N2 Plasmas and O2 Plasmas of Low-Pressure Microwave Discharge
The differences in rotational temperatures are examined between neutral molecules and molecular ions for low-pressure microwave discharge nitrogen plasma and oxygen plasma. For N2 plasma, rotational temperatures of second positive system (2PS) and of first negative system (1NS) are measured, whereas those of atmospheric absorption band (A-band) and of 1NS are measured for neutrals and ions, respectively. It is found that the ions have higher rotational temperature than neutrals for the N2 plasma, while both have almost the same temperature for the O2 plasma. Difference between N2 plasma and O2 plasma is discussed from the molecular spectroscopic point of view.