Investigation of the VUV Radiation Produced by Sliding Discharge.
Abstract
Investigated are the electrical characteristics and the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation produced by a sliding discharge inan atmosphere of argon. The discharge covered the surface of an aluminum rod wrapped with a graded layer of Kapton film from 0.05 to 1.02 mm thick. Rods with diameters of 0.61 cm and 1.23 cm were used. The discharge took place between two electrodes concentric with the aluminum rod, which acted as the return conductor. A circuit with a ringing frequency of 2.8 microsec half-period and an energy storage capacitor of 1.85 microF charged to 50 kV (2.32 kJ) was used to drive the discharge. Using the smaller rod we observed light pulses of 1.3-microsec FWHM duration which radiation a non-Planckian continuum. About 77 J of the energy emitted by the plasma appeared in the VUV between 140 and 210 nm; this energy corresponds to 3.3% of the energy stored in the capacitor. A peak radiance of 2.8 kW/sq cm nm was measured at 180 nm; this radiance corresponds to a maximum brightness temperature of 17800 K. In the visible spectrum the radiance was less than 0.06 kW/sq cm nm, which indicates a much lower brightness temperature of only 12300 K. These characteristics make this discharge an excellent VUV source for a variety of photolytic applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 30, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA170847
Entities
People
- L. E. Schneider
- R. W. Gross
- S. T. Amimoto
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation