Regenerative soot as a source of broad band VUV light

Certain important and pertinent questions have been raised by E. Träbert in his comment on the paper Eur. Phys. J. D 22, 189 (2003)] by one of us. We provide explanations as well as new and recent data using a calibrated monochromator on the existence of the main intercombination multiplet 233 nm which is the bone of contention. It is shown that there is no conflict with the established atomic physics in the regenerative sooting discharges; only the interpretations are at variance with those of the comment.Received: 30 July 2003, Published online: 30 September 2003PACS: 32.70.Fw Absolute and relative intensities - 34.50.Dy Interactions of atoms and molecules with surfaces; photon and electron emission; neutralization of ions - 34.80.Dp Atomic excitation and ionization by electron impact