Laser-induced fluorescence detection of the 4d$^4D_{7/2}\rightarrow$5p$^4P^\circ_{5/2}$ transition of Kr II in a hollow cathode discharge

Abstract

Electric propulsion requires exhaustive ground test campaigns to obtain an accurate characterization of the propulsion devices, or thrusters, used by the spacecraft. Among the many plasma parameters, accurately measured during the tests, that of the ion velocity is key, and can be measured using non-intrusive tools such as Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) diagnostics. The ion velocity is inferred by Doppler shift measurements that presupposes a precise and accurate knowledge of the wavelength of excitation of the ions at rest. Today electric propulsion is moving towards the use of Krypton as a propellant, due to the dramatic increase in cost of the more advantageous Xenon gas propellant, commonly used until now. In this work the 4d$^4D_{7/2}\rightarrow$5p$^4P^\circ_{5/2}$ transition of Kr II is used for LIF diagnostic in hollow cathode discharge.