  A novel kind of electron beam sustained discharge is presented in which a
12keV electron beam is combined with a 2.45GHz microwave power to excite argon
gas at atmospheric pressure in a continuous mode of operation. Optical emission
spectroscopy is performed over a wide wavelength range from the vacuum
ultraviolet (VUV) to the near infrared (NIR). Several effects which modify the
emission spectra compared to sole electron beam excitation are observed and
interpreted by the changing plasma parameters such as electron density,
electron temperature and gas temperature.
