Dynamics of OH (X2 Pi , v=0) in high-energy atmospheric pressure electrical pulsed discharge

Time transients of the number density of the hydroxyl radical ground state formed in the DC high energy atmospheric pressure pulsed discharge were measured by means of laser-induced fluorescence. The discharge peak current varied from 10\+-2\- to 10 A, and the time duration was from 500 ns to 50 \#m\s. The population of v'' = 0 of OH reaches the steady state within the first 20 \#m\s of the discharge. The ground state number density reaches its maximum value approximately 100 \#m\s after the discharge and is up to three times larger than during the discharge pulse. (Original abstract-amended)