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Spectroscopic study of the afterglow excited by intense electrical discharges in high-pressure helium hydrogen mixtures

Journal Article · · J. Chem. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.449856· OSTI ID:5604754

In this work, we report the study of afterglow plasmas with initial electron density over 10/sup 15/ cm/sup -3/ excited by repetitive 3 kA, 7 ns duration discharges in He--H/sub 2/ mixtures with helium pressure in the range 310--760 Torr and partial pressure of hydrogen from 20 to 400 mTorr. The afterglow radiation was emitted in He/sub 2/ transitions as well as in atomic hydrogen spectral lines, with L..cap alpha.. being particularly intense. The ground state H concentration was estimated from the profile of the self-absorbed L..cap alpha.. line, indicating that dissociation of hydrogen occurs mainly in the afterglow by electron--ion recombination. He (2 /sup 3/S) destruction frequencies have been determined from measurements of the optical absorption of the 2 /sup 3/S..-->..3 /sup 3/P helium transition and were analyzed in terms of rate coefficients for various quenching processes. Among these, the Penning reaction with atomic hydrogen was found to be important.

Research Organization:
G.R.E.M.I., Universite d'Orleans, 45046 Orleans Cedex, France
OSTI ID:
5604754
Journal Information:
J. Chem. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 83:3; ISSN JCPSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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