Investigation of the Effect of Finite Spectral Slit Width on the Spatial Resolution of Emission and Absorption Coefficients in Inhomogeneous Sources of Cylindrical Symmetry.

A numerical method was developed to determine the effect of finite spectral slit width on spatial resolution of emission and absorption coefficients in an argon arc plasma in local thermodynamic equilibrium. Applying general plasma spectroscopy theory, typical true emission and absorption coefficient profiles were calculated. Using these coefficient profiles, true intensity and transmission profiles were obtained. Considering finite spectral slit width effects, observed intensity and transmission profiles were determined. Using an Abel iteration technique, observed emission and absorption coefficients were calculated. These observed and true coefficients were compared to determine an error pattern. Author