Electron induced collisional population decay rates for levels of 3p54s and 3P54p manifolds of ArI in plasma

Population decay rates due to collisions with electrons were calculated for levels belonging to 4s and 4p manifolds of ArI, for the electron temperature range from 7000 K to 21000 K. These quantities are necessary to describe the signal received from the laser spectroscopy of argon plasmas as well as in plasma modelling. Discussion on the available theoretical and experimental data concerning cross sections required for calculation is presented. Consistency of the cross section data set was verified by comparing the measured Stark width and its temperature dependence for the 696.5 nm ArI line to the inelastic collisions contribution to this line width derived from calculated population decay rates.