Study of the emission intensities of doubly ionized uranium (U III) in a hollow-cathode discharge

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.5.001645· OSTI ID:6854648

Piyakis, K N; Gagne, J M

The emission intensities of doubly ionized uranium, produced in a hollow-cathode discharge, are studied by using mixtures of helium and other rare gases as fill gases. The U III emission intensities, obtained with optimized mixtures, are found to increase when the ionization potential of the heavier gas decreases. An explanation of this behavior is presented. The strongest emission intensities are observed with a helium--xenon 100:1 mixture at a total pressure of 600 Pa. In this case the enhancement, relative to a pure-neon fill gas, becomes more substantial for U III transitions originating from relatively high energy levels. When helium was mixed with neon, no enhancement was observed. A hybrid Penning charge-transfer reaction is suggested as a possible excitation mechanism.

• Research Organization: Departemente de Genie Physique, Laboratoire d'Optique et de Spectroscopie, Ecole Polytechnique, C.P. 6079, Succursale ''A,'' Montreal, Quebec H3C 3A7, Canada
• OSTI ID: 6854648
• Journal Information: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 5:8; ISSN JOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640302* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Atomic & Molecular Properties & Theory
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMIC IONS
CATHODES
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRODES
EMISSION SPECTRA
HOLLOW CATHODES
IONS
MULTICHARGED IONS
SPECTRA
URANIUM IONS
VISIBLE SPECTRA