Emission and absorption studies of copper vapor ejected from a pulsed hollow cathode discharge

The time evolution of the Cu vapor cloud formed outside a hollow cathode during pulsed operation was probed using spectral absorption and emission methods. The absorption studies were carried out using a second Cu discharge as a light source, and the emission from the vapor cloud was excited with an auxiliary electrode placed at right angles to the cathode axis. The experimental results indicate the formation of an extended region of Cu vapor ejected from the hollow cathode, of density comparable to that produced inside the cathode cavity and with persistence times up to 1 ms using 200-μsec discharge pulses. The experiments provide additional insight into the mechanisms governing the action of a pulsed, hollow cathode discharge.     

On the excitation mechanism of the He-Ar hollow cathode laser

Investigations were carried out on the Ar-II 476.5 nm laser to obtain information on possible excitation mechanisms. The He-Ar hollow cathode discharge was excited by square wave current pulses. From the results of measurements it could be concluded that collisions of the second kind between He 2³ S metastable atoms and ground state Ar ions are dominant in the excitation of the upper laser level. This is also supported by results obtained in the case of the He-Kr hollow cathode laser, where the upper level of the Kr-II 469.4 nm laser is excited by a similar collision process.     

N2微空心阴极放电特性及其阴极溅射的PIC/MC模拟

采用两维PIC/MCC模型模拟了氮气微空心阴极放电以及轰击离子 (N₂⁺,N⁺) 的钛阴极溅射. 主要计算了氮气微空心阴极放电离子 (N₂⁺,N⁺) 及溅射原子Ti的行为分布, 并研究了溅射Ti 原子的热化过程. 结果表明: 在模拟条件下, 空心阴极效应是负辉区叠加的电子震荡; 在对应条件下, 微空心较传统空心放电两种离子 (N₂⁺,N⁺) 密度均大两个量级, 两种离子的平均能量的分布及大小几乎相同; 在放电空间N⁺的密度约为N₂⁺的1/6, 最大能量约大2倍; 在不同参数 (P, T, V)下, 轰击阴极内表面的氮离子(N₂⁺,N⁺)的密度近似均匀, 其平均能量几乎相等; 从阴极溅射出的Ti原子的初始平均能量约6.8 eV, 离开阴极约0.15 mm处几乎完全被热化. 模拟结果为N₂微空心阴极放电等离子体特性的认识提供了参考依据. 关键词： 微空心阴极放电 PIC/MC模拟 2等离子体')" href="#">N₂等离子体     

Effect of helium/argon gas ratio in a He-Ar-Cu<Superscript>+</Superscript> IR hollow-cathode discharge laser: modeling study and comparison with experiments

The He-Ar-Cu⁺ IR laser operates in a hollow-cathode discharge, typically in a mixture of helium with a few-% Ar. The population inversion of the Cu⁺ ion levels, responsible for laser action, is attributed to asymmetric charge transfer between He⁺ ions and sputtered Cu atoms. The Ar gas is added to promote sputtering of the Cu cathode. In this paper, a hybrid modeling network consisting of several different models for the various plasma species present in a He-Ar-Cu hollow-cathode discharge is applied to investigate the effect of Ar concentration in the gas mixture on the discharge behavior, and to find the optimum He/Ar gas ratio for laser operation. It is found that the densities of electrons, Ar⁺ ions, Ar_m ^* metastable atoms, sputtered Cu atoms and Cu⁺ ions increase upon the addition of more Ar gas, whereas the densities of He⁺ ions, He₂ ⁺ ions and He_m ^* metastable atoms drop considerably. The product of the calculated Cu atom and He⁺ ion densities, which determines the production rate of the upper laser levels, and hence probably also the laser output power, is found to reach a maximum around 1–5 % Ar addition. This calculation result is compared to experimental measurements, and reasonable agreement has been reached. Received: 14 October 2002 / Revised version: 28 November 2002 / Published online: 19 March 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +32-3/820-23-76, E-mail: annemie.bogaerts@ua.ac.be     

Atom and Ion Temperatures in a Hollow Cathode Discharge

Abstract

The excitation temperatures of atoms and ions /Ar I, Ar II, V I, V II, Cr I, Cr II, Cu I, and Si I/ have been measured in the hollow cathode discharge. The Ar I high energy levels have been found to be overpopulated. The electron density has been estimated. The ionization-excitation mechanism has been discussed.     

Endoergic and resonant charge transfer excitation in He-Cu discharge

The intensity of Cu-II lines with upper level energies near and above those of the He ion was measured as a function of He pressure in a Cu hollow cathode tube. In this tube at low pressures the negative glow could expand above the cathode. The maximum intensity of the Cu-II 493.1 nm line was found in the low voltage, high pressure hollow cathode discharge region in accordance with a resonant charge transfer excitation process. Enhancement of the intensity of the Cu-II 436.5 nm and 417.9 nm lines was observed in the cathode glow at low pressures. Excitation of these lines is attributed to endoergic charge transfer collisions between He ions accelerated by the 2 kV tube voltage and ground state Cu atoms. The cross-section for this reaction exciting the 436.5 nm line was estimated to be of the order of 10^–17 cm².     

流体-亚稳态原子传输混合模型模拟空心阴极放电特性

利用流体-亚稳态原子传输混合模型研究了氩气矩形空心阴极放电稳态时的参数. 数值计算得到了压强为10 Torr时的电势、电子、离子和亚稳态氩原子密度以及电子平均能量的分布. 结果表明电子和离子密度峰值为4.7×10¹² cm^-3, 亚稳态原子密度峰值为2.1×10¹³ cm^-3. 本文同时对流体-亚稳态原子传输混合模型和单一流体模型模拟得到的放电参数进行了比较. 结果表明, 分步电离是新电子产生的重要来源, 亚稳态原子对空心阴极放电特性有重要影响. 与单一流体模型相比, 混合模型计算得到的电子密度升高, 阴极鞘层宽度和电子平均能量降低. 关键词： 空心阴极放电 流体-亚稳态原子传输模型 电子密度 分步电离     

Selective detection of minor isotope lines in saturated absorption spectra by absorption filtering of major isotope lines

We demonstrate a simple method that can be used to detect minor isotope lines in a saturated absorption spectrum by the absorption filtering of major isotope lines. We investigate this method for use in the spectroscopy of the ¹S₀-¹P₁ transition in Yb at 399 nm by controlling the density of Yb atoms by varying the discharge current of a hollow cathode lamp. The performance of an extended-cavity laser diode using a high-power ultraviolet diode chip is also analyzed.     

Population densities and optical gain of VUV transitions of Cu II in Cu−He hollow cathode discharges

Population densities of excited Cu II-levels between 16 and 25 eV in Cu–He hollow cathode discharges were determined by emission spectroscopy. Population inversion was detected for several 6s-4p transitions. Investigation of the enhancement of Cu II vuv lines in He compared to Ne discharges showed that the excitation of the 6s levels by charge transfer is up to 100 times higher in He than in pure Ne discharges. Using the population densities and known transition probabilities, a single pass gain of 55% m^–1 at 780.8 nm and 1.2% m^–1 at 154.17 nm at a current density of 0.4 A cm^–2 was calculated.This paper is dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. Gobrecht on the occasion of his 75th birthday     

Spectroscopic Study of a Hollow Cathode Discharge Operating at Direct and High Frequency Currents - Temperature Measurements

Spectra excited in a hollow cathode discharge operating at high frequency and direct currents have been studied. Samples (La₂O₃ and Y₂O₃) were placed in the copper hollow cathodes and argon was a carrier gas. The excitation temperatures of Ar I, Ar II, Cu I, Y I, Y II and La II in high frequency and direct current hollow cathode discharges have been determined and compared.     

氦气空心阴极放电动力学过程的模拟研究

利用流体模型模拟研究了氦气空心阴极放电的时空动力学过程,计算得到了不同放电时刻电子和亚稳态氦原子密度、电势、电场、基态电离速率和分步电离速率等的时空分布特性。特别是讨论了亚稳态原子和分步电离对于放电的影响。结果表明,随着电流的增长,放电处于五个不同的放电模式：第一阶段电流上升非常缓慢,为汤生放电模式,带电粒子密度、亚稳态原子密度和径向电场均很弱;第二阶段电流迅速上升,放电模式由汤生放电向空心阴极放电过渡,带电粒子密度、亚稳态原子密度和径向电场迅速增强;第三阶段达到准稳态阶段,放电电流增长速度变缓,形成了明显的阴极鞘层结构;第四阶段为空心阴极效应形成阶段,向稳态阶段过渡;第五阶段为稳态放电阶段。研究结果同时表明,亚稳态氦原子和分步电离在放电的初始阶段对于放电的发展作用较弱,在前三阶段中,电子的产生以基态电离为主。随着放电的发展,由亚稳态原子引起的分步电离对新的电子产生的作用逐渐接近并超过基态电离,对总电离的贡献率越来越高。     

Density of fast electrons on the Axis of a Zylindrical Hollow-Cathode Discharge

Fast electrons leaving a hollow cathode discharge axially through the orifice of a hole probe undergo ionizing collisions with the discharge gas in and behind the orifice. Ar⁺⁺ ions produced in this way are used as a monitor for the density of fast electrons, N_ef, on the axis of the negative glow of a cylindrical hollow cathode discharge. Data on N_ef as dependent on the pressure of the Ar discharge gas and on the discharge current are obtained and an analytical expression for these dependences is found and discussed.     

On the Conductance of the Gas Discharge Plasma at Space Anisotropic Excitation

The galvanic manifestation of two transformations of degenerate magnetic states of the neon atom, namely self‐alignment → non‐alignment and alignment ? orientation is studied by monitoring the voltage across the discharge in a range of hollow cathode discharge (HCD) lamps. The application of a magnetic field to the discharge disorders the self‐alignment. Alignment and orientation are optically induced and their effect on the discharge conductance is compared by measuring the optogalvanic signals. The degenerate states investigated are found to contribute to the gas discharge conductance in a manner which depends on their degree of coherence. Various hollow cathode discharge media are studied including Ne/As, Ne/Cu, Ne/Ni, Ne/Cd, Ne/Li and Ne/Ca in the corresponding trademarked HCD spectral lamps. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Systematic trends in optogalvanic signals of some transitions in a uranium hollow cathode discharge

A study of optogalvanic (OG) signals in a uranium hollow cathode discharge using a tunable pulsed dye laser with intensities above saturation revealed certain systematic trends. The peaks of OG signals, for a given hollow cathode current, due to all transitions involving the ground state are within a certain range of values. The same is true of the OG signals due to transitions involving the 620 cm^-1 and 3800 cm^-1 lower metastable levels. For all transitions involving the same lower state, the peaks of OG signal vary linearly with the discharge current. The slopes of such straight lines are different for transitions involving different lower levels of uranium. Effects of radiation trapping are seen in the OG signals due to transitions involving the ground state of uranium at currents above 60 mA. Details of our observations are presented and discussed.     

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开发了氮空心阴极放电PIC/MC二维自洽模型。研究了N2传统空心阴极向微空心阴极放电转变过程中电势和电场的变化。结果表明,不同尺寸的空心阴极放电的电势及电场分布规律几乎类似,但空心阴极孔径减小且气压增加时,电场近似线性增加;典型微空心阴极电场比传统空心阴极放电电场约大3个量级;微空心阴极放电产生的电子,氮分子离子和氮原子离子的密度比传统空心阴极放电约大3个量级,且微空心阴极放电中,N2+密度比N+密度大8倍以上。     

Recombination processes and quenching of negative afterglow by microwaves — Ne,Ne + He

Quenching of the afterglow of an interrupted negative glow by application of microwaves to the decaying plasma has been observed. The time dependences of Ne atomic spectral line intensities show that two distinct groups of spectral lines, each group having its own time dependence in the afterglow, are emitted. Both the potential curves and energy level positions known for Ne ₂ ⁺ and Ne₂ are discussed with respect to the observed effects. The time dependence of Ne spectral lines cannot be explained by the temperature dependence of recombination coefficients only.The enhanced Mo spectral line emission (material evaporated from the cathode) caused by microwaves during the discharge period or after current cutoff, makes it possible to estimate the electron temperature increase and relaxation during and after the microwave pulse.     

Observation of the opto-galvanic effect in neon and argon using a nanosecond dye laser

The dynamic behavior of the opto-galvanic-effect (OGE) in Ar and Ne using a ns-dye-laser is described. The OEG signals observed by us can be subdivided into two types, which show characteristic differences in the dependence of the OEG signal on the hollow cathode lamp current.     

Fluorine Determination and Matrix Effects in DC and HF Hollow Cathode Discharges

Abstract

The InF bands excited in a hollow cathode discharge have been used for fluorine determination in solid samples (containing from 10^?6 to 10^?1% F) and solutions (at the F^? concentrations from 1 μg/ml to 1 mg/ml). The discharge operated at direct current (dc) or high frequency current (hf). A dependence of the InF band intensities on the fluorine concentration has been investigated. Matrix effects caused by some metals and halides have been studied and discussed.     

Linewidth studies on the Ar+ 476.5 nm and 480.6 nm lines excited in a helium-agron hollow cathode discharge

The spectral line shapes of the Ar⁺ 476.5 nm and 480.6 nm lines, excited in a He-Ar hollow cathode (HC) discharge, were measured using the Fabry-Perot technique. The collisional and Doppler linewidths were determined for the two lines. The collisional broadening constants are estimated to be (5±3) MHz/mbar and (6±3) MHz/mbar, respectively. The temperature obtained from the two Ar ion transitions was found to be 260 K higher than that expected for the rest of the gas mixture from earlier measurements. The possibility is discussed, that this excess temperature is caused by Ar ions partially created in the HC discharge by charge transfer collisions with He ₂ ⁺ molecules.     

Hollow-cathode transverse discharge He−Ne and He−Cd+ lasers

An all-metal hollow-cathode laser tube consisting of a perforated cylindrical cathode surrounded by a coaxial cylindrical anode has been operated as a He?Ne laser at 0.6328, 1.15 and 3.39 μm, and as a He?Cd laser at red, green and blue visible wavelengths, using both de and pulsed-plus-dc excitation. Laser oscillation in He?Zn, Ne?Cd, Xe?Cd and Ar?Cd mixtures has also been obtained. The hollow-cathode discharge consists primarily of an intense cathode glow inside the cathode cylinder, giving a quiet, stable, low-voltage, positive-resistance discharge. Results for the He?Ne and He?Cd laser output versus partial and total pressures and discharge currents are presented. The unoptimized laser performance for the He?Ne case approaches but does not yet equal the conventional positive-column case, while the He?Cd performance for the charge-transfer-pumped green 5378Å line appears particularly promising.