The production of excimer molecules and excited atoms in a positive corona discharge in He/Xe(Kr)/SF6/CCl4 mixtures

Electrical and optical characteristics of a positive corona discharge in He/Xe(Kr)/SF₆/CCl₄ mixtures, which are of interest for the use in multiwavelength excimer radiation sources, are studied in the needle-grid electrode configuration. The length of the discharge, which is usually used to pump repetitive high-pressure multiwavelength radiation sources, is equal to the length of the electrodes of an excimer laser or lamp pumped by a transverse electric discharge. The discharge current-voltage and frequency characteristics, panoramic emission spectra, and the dependences of the relative emission intensity from the halogenides and excited noble gas atoms on the corona discharge current are investigated. The main processes resulting in the production of halogenides, as well as xenon and krypton excited atoms, in the generation regions of a corona discharge are studied.