NEW MEASUREMENTS OF THE FLUORESCENCE EFFICIENCY OF AIR UNDER ELECTRON BOMBARDMENT
Abstract
The fluorescence efficiency of air under electron bombardment was measured at a pressure corresponding to an altitude of 65 km, for electron energies near 700 eV, with the principal measurements at the bright 3914-A band of the N2(+) ion. Efficiencies for the 3914-A band from two methods of observation were in good agreement, and gave a value eta-3914 = 0.34%. Spectra were obtained for air emission in the range 2500 to 12,000 A. Comparison of the radiation in the 3914-A band to that in the whole spectrum gave a total efficiency of 1.86% for this spectral range. Efficiencies of some individual bands of the N2 first and second positive systems were also determined by comparison with the 3914-A band. The 3914-A efficiency, for electron energies of 165 eV to 1 keV, was found to be nearly independent of energy, rising perhaps as the 0.07th power of the energy in this range. The dependence on pressure of the light output in the spectral range 3000 to 11,000 A was observed for electron energies of 750 and 1425 eV and pressures of 30 to 960 mu. The efficiency of the 3914-A band is independent of pressure below 100 mu. Above 100 mu, efficiencies of the N2(+) first negative and N2 first and second positive bands decrease with increasing pressure, the first positive decreasing most rapidly and the second positive least rapidly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0664103
Entities
People
- Paul L. Hartman
Organizations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory