Data for: Comparison of neutral argon R-matrix calculations with experimentally determined apparent cross sections, and the importance of time-dependent metastables in the modeling of low temperature argon plasmas

Abstract

Neutral argon is an important element in a wide range of low temperature plasma applications. Calculations are presented here for the electron-impact excitation cross sections and Maxwellian rate coefficients for neutral argon using the Breit-Pauli R-matrix with PseudoStates (BPRMPS) method. The theoretical cross-section results are compared with experimental apparent cross-section measurements and theoretical data. Spectral modeling using the theoretical data in a collisional-radiative model is performed and compared with observations from the ALEXIS plasma device at Auburn University for wavelengths ranging from 725 nm to 845 nm. The importance is shown of diagnosing the neutral Ar metastable behavior for the plasma before performing any spectral analysis. For the ALEXIS plasma, a time-dependent model, accounting for non-steady-state metastables, produces good agreement with the observed spectral intensities and shows an expected trend with plasma pressure.