VUV efficiency and radiant emittance characterization of xenon positive column discharges

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:419778

Doughty, D A ^[1]

---

1. GE Corporate Research and Development, Schenectady, NY (United States)

The pure xenon dc positive column discharge has been characterized for various xenon pressures, currents, and discharge tube radii. The absolute output at the 147 nm resonance transition has been measured using two independent techniques to yield the radiant emittance at 147 nm (power per unit surface area). The efficiency of 147 nm production is obtained by combining the measured radiant emittance with the measured electrical power per unit length deposited in the gas. The radiant emittance and the efficiency are the two principle figures of merit for characterizing the discharge as a source of VUV radiation. It is observed that the trends in efficiency and radiant emittance change substantially when the discharge transitions from two-step electron impact excitation/ionization at higher pressures to single-step electron impact ionization at lower pressures. Modeling of the xenon positive column discharge yields radiant emittance and efficiency predictions that are consistent with the measured values, though the predicted trends from the model do not always agree with the measurements.

• Sponsoring Organization: National Inst. of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
• OSTI ID: 419778
• Report Number(s): CONF-960634--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
LIGHT BULBS