RESEARCH ON RADIATION TRANSIENTS IN GAS DISCHARGES
Abstract
Research was undertaken to describe the properties and identify the causes of the Rayleigh phenomenon accompanying expanding spark discharges. Specific attention was given to (1) the mechanics of the expansion, (2) the steps of energy transfer which lead to the production of excited atomic systems, and (3) the nature of these systems. The study indicated that suitably arranged low-pressure spark discharges are followed by an expansion of the ion cloud. The expansion is violent and generally preceded in the surrounding gas by a very strong shock wave which frequently exhibits an intense luminosity that is largely intrinsic. During the expansion the reservoir of internal energy in the ion cloud maintains the ionization and is converted into radiation over an extended time interval according to the processes present in a stellar atmosphere, thus prolonging the discharge well beyond the interval which electric circuit calculations of current decay would indicate. During the various processes, the gas is believed to preserve a Maxwell-Boltzman distribution and the expansion is thought of as a succession of equilibrium states because the long range Coulomb forces between the ions promote rapid attainment of equilibrium.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 1952
- Accession Number
- AD0001239
Entities
People
- Richard G. Fowler
- William R. Atkinson
Organizations
- University of Oklahoma