Plasma excitation temperature obtained with Boltzmann plot method: Significance, precision, trueness and accuracy

This paper is dedicated to the significance of the excitation temperature retrieved with Boltzmann plot method and to the correct analysis of the accuracy of the obtained temperature. Several issues, often neglected in the present literature are analyzed: the effect of the S/N on the accuracy of the Boltzmann plot, the difference between average temperature and time and space integrated temperature (apparent temperature) and the sensitivity of the Boltzmann plot method are discussed in detail. With the aim of demonstrating the importance of the above-mentioned issues, experiment simulation, as well as real experiments, are used. At the end of the discussion some guidelines for the correct use of the Boltzmann plot and of the obtained temperature value are presented.