System for time-discretized vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy of spark breakdown in air

Journal Article · Wed Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4897295· OSTI ID:22305873

Ryberg, D.; Fierro, A.; Dickens, J.; Neuber, A. ^[1]

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1. Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Physics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409 (United States)

A system for time-discretized spectroscopic measurements of the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) emission from spark discharges in the 60-160 nm range has been developed for the study of early plasma-forming phenomena. The system induces a spark discharge in an environment close to atmospheric conditions created using a high speed puff value, but is otherwise kept at high vacuum to allow for the propagation of VUV light. Using a vertical slit placed 1.5 mm from the discharge the emission from a small cross section of the discharge is allowed to pass into the selection chamber consisting of a spherical grating, with 1200 grooves/mm, and an exit slit set to 100 μm. Following the exit slit is a photomultiplier tube with a sodium salicylate scintillator that is used for the time discretized measurement of the VUV signal with a temporal resolution limit of 10 ns. Results from discharges studied in dry air, Nitrogen, SF{sub 6}, and Argon indicate the emission of light with wavelengths shorter than 120 nm where the photon energy begins to approach the regime of direct photoionization.

• OSTI ID: 22305873
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 85, Issue 10; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIR
ARGON
BREAKDOWN
ELECTRIC SPARKS
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
GRATINGS
NITROGEN
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHOTONS
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PRESSURE RANGE MILLI PA
RESOLUTION
SIGNALS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFUR FLUORIDES
WAVELENGTHS