Electron-Beam Produced Air Plasma: Optical and Electrical Diagnostics

High energy electron impact excitation is used to stimulate optical emissions that quantify the measurement of electron beam current. A 100 keV 10-ma electron beam source is used to produce air plasma in a test cell at a pressure between 1 mTorr and 760 Torr. Optical emissions originating from the N$_{2}$ 2$^{nd}$ positive line at 337.1 nm and the N$_{2}^{+}$ 1$^{st}$ negative line at 391.4 nm are observed. Details on calibration using signals from an isolated transmission window and a Faraday plate are discussed. Results using this technique and other electrical signal are presented.