Spectral characteristics of a broadband exciplex spontaneous emission source upon mixtures of the cadmium dibromide vapor with gases

The spectral characteristics of radiation from atmospheric-pressure gas-discharge plasma in mixtures of cadmium dibromide vapor with gases (Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and N₂), as well as the temporal characteristics of the voltage and current, have been investigated. A barrier discharge at the repetition frequency of sine voltage pulses up to 140 kHz has been used to create the gas-discharge plasma and excite the components of the working mixture. The discharge radiation has been analyzed in the spectral range 200–900 nm with a high resolution (0.05 nm). In the spectra, we have revealed radiation from exciplex molecules CdBr(B → X) and CdBr(C → X), atomic lines of cadmium and inert gases, and, in mixtures with xenon, radiation of exciplex molecules XeBr(B → X, B → A). The XeBr(B → X) radiation prevailed in the spectra at mixture temperatures up to 200°C. The further increase of the temperature resulted in the prevalence of the CdBr(B → X) radiation. The most intense CdBr(B → X) radiation was observed in mixtures of CdBr₂/Xe. When the temperature of the mixture was higher than 250°C, the discharge radiation had a silvery-white color. Regularities in the spectral characteristics of the radiation from the gas-discharge plasma are discussed. The high-frequency atmospheric-pressure barrier discharge in mixtures of cadmium dibromide with gases, excited by sine voltage pulses, can be used in multiwave and broadband excilamps, operating in the UV and visible regions.     

Spectral characteristics of a barrier discharge in cadmium dihalide vapor-inert gas mixtures

Spectral characteristics of a barrier-discharge plasma produced in atmospheric-pressure mixtures of cadmium diiodide and cadmium dibromide vapors with neon, krypton, and xenon at a repetition rate of sine voltage pulses up to 130 kHz are studied. The emission from the discharge is studied within the spectral range 200–900 nm with a resolution of 0.05 nm. Emission of exciplex molecules CdI(B → X) and CdBr(C, B → X), and cadmium and inert gas atoms is revealed, as well as emission of exciplex molecules XeI(B → X, A) and XeBr(B → X, A) in xenon-containing mixtures. The emission of xenon halides prevails in the spectra at a mixture temperature up to 200°C. With a further temperature increase, the emission of cadmium halides becomes dominating. It is ascertained that the most intense emissions of CdI(B → X) and CdI₂/CdBr₂/Xe/Kr and CdBr(B → X) molecules are observed, respectively, in CdI₂/CdBr₂/Xe/Kr and CdI₂/CdBr₂/Xe mixtures. The cadmium dihalide-inert gas mixtures are of interest for the use as a radiating gas in a multiwavelength and broadband excilamp emitting in the UV and visible spectral ranges.     

Spectroscopic diagnostics of barrier-discharge plasma in mixtures of cadmium diiodide vapor with gases

The spectral characteristics of the emission of atmospheric-pressure gas-discharge plasma in mixtures of cadmium diiodide vapor with gases (Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and N₂) were investigated along with the time characteristics of the voltage and current. The gas-discharge plasma was produced and excited by a barrier discharge at a repetition rate of sine voltage pulses of up to 140 kHz. The discharge emission was analyzed in the spectral range 200–900 nm with a high resolution (0.05 nm). Radiation from exciplex CdI(B-X) molecules and excimer I₂* molecules was revealed, as well as the atomic lines of cadmium, iodine, and inert gases. In a mixture with xenon, radiation from exciplex molecules XeI(B-X, B-A) was also found. This radiation prevailed in the spectra at mixture temperatures up to 150°C. The further increase of the temperature leads to the prevalence of the CdI(B-X) radiation. It was found that the most intense CdI(B-X) radiation is observed in mixtures CdI₂/Xe(N₂)/Ne. Regularities in the spectral characteristics of the emission of the gas-discharge plasma are discussed.     

Spectroscopic diagnostics of barrier discharge plasmas in mixtures of zinc diiodide with inert gases

The spectral characteristics of the emission of gas discharge atmospheric pressure plasmas in mixtures of zinc diiodide vapor with inert gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) are investigated. The formation of a gas discharge plasma and the excitation of the components of a working mixture were performed in a high-frequency (with a repetition frequency of sinusoidal voltage pulses of 100 kHz) barrier discharge. The gas discharge emission was analyzed in the spectral range 200–900 nm with a resolution of 0.05 nm. Emission bands of ZnI(B-X) exciplex molecules and I₂* excimer molecules, lines of inert gases, and emission bands of XeI* exciplex molecules (in Xe-containing mixtures) were revealed. It is ascertained that the strongest emission of ZnI* molecules is observed in ZnI₂/He(Ne) mixtures. The regularities in the spectral characteristics of the gas discharge plasma emission are considered.     

Emission characteristics of pulse-periodic barrier-discharge plasma in a mixture of krypton with argon and liquid freon vapor

Radiation of a nanosecond barrier discharge in a mixture of krypton, argon, and carbon-tetrachloride vapor is studied in the spectral range of 150–300 nm. The plasma radiation spectra and the dependences of the intensities of the 258 nm Cl₂(D′ → A′), 222 nm KrCl(B → X), and 175 nm ArCl(B → X) bands on the partial pressure of liquid freon vapor, argon, and krypton, as well as on the discharge excitation conditions, are studied. The optimal compositions of gas mixtures for creating a broadband UV-VUV emitter based on the band system of argon chloride, krypton chloride, and chlorine molecule are determined.     

Optical characteristics of barrier discharge plasma based on mixtures of mercury diiodide and dibromide vapors with gases

We analyze the spectral, integrated, and durability characteristics of radiation from atmospheric-pressure gas-discharge plasma based on multicomponent mixtures (mercury diiodide and dibromide with helium and small admixtures of molecular nitrogen and xenon). We produced the gas-discharge plasma and excited the components of the working mixture by a pulsed (pulse repetition rates 500, 2000, and 4000 Hz; pulse duration ～150 ns) barrier discharge. Visible radiation was detected from excimer molecules of mercury monoiodide and monobromide, nitrogen and helium molecules, and helium and mercury atoms. Patterns were found in the variations of optical plasma characteristics with pumping pulse repetition rate and with component and quantitative mixture composition.     

Emission characteristics of a barrier discharge in an argon-freon-water vapor mixture in the UV-VUV spectral range

Optical characteristics of an ArCl*-OH* lamp excited by a nanosecond barrier discharge are studied. This discharge is a source of the ArCl (B → X), (D’ → A’), and OH(A → X) molecular band emission with peaks at 175, 258, and 309 nm, respectively. The intensity of the barrier discharge plasma radiation is optimized as a function of the CCl₄ vapor partial pressure at p(Ar) = 24 kPa and p(H₂O) = 10–20 Pa.     

Emission properties of an atmospheric-pressure helium plasma jet generated by a barrier discharge

The emission properties of an atmospheric-pressure helium plasma jet generated by a barrier discharge in a capillary blown with helium are studied. The spectral composition of the radiation of the studied plasma jet and the spatial-spectral distribution of its intensity are investigated in detail. It is shown that the emission spectrum of the generated plasma jet outside the capillary consists mainly of electronic-vibrational transitions of the first negative system of ionized nitrogen molecules N ₂ ⁺ (B ²Σ _u ⁺ → X ²Σ _g ⁺ ) and the second positive system of neutral nitrogen molecules N₂(C ³Π _u → B ³Π _g ).     

A broadband excimer source of visible radiation with barrier discharge pumping

We investigate the characteristics of a broadband cylindrical excimer source of visible radiation with a surface area of 230 cm² excited by a pulse-periodic barrier discharge based on multicomponent mixtures (mercury diiodide and dibromide with helium and admixtures of molecular nitrogen and xenon). The working mixture components were excited by a pulse-periodic (pulse repetition rate 500–5000 Hz, pulse duration ～150 ns) barrier discharge. We detected radiation from excimer HgI* and HgBr* molecules, the second positive system of molecular nitrogen, and mercury and xenon atoms. The amplitude, duration, and trailing edge of the radiation pulses in the HgI₂:HgBr₂:Xe:He and HgI₂: HgBr₂:N₂:He mixtures with admixtures of xenon and molecular nitrogen were found to change compared to the HgI₂:HgBr₂:He mixture. The optimal partial pressure of helium lies within the range 162–195 kPa. The most intense radiation from HgI* and HgBr* molecules (in a ratio of more than 3: 1) is observed in the HgI₂:HgBr₂: Xe:He mixture. The mean and pulse radiation powers are 45 W and 93 kW, respectively, at a pumping pulse repetition rate of 5000 Hz and an efficiency of 30%. We discuss the spectral and temporal characteristics of the radiation source and the dependence of the radiation intensity of excimer molecules of mercury monoiodide and monobromide on the partial pressures of xenon and nitrogen. We point out that the radiation source is of considerable interest for applications in biotechnology and medicine.     

Optical properties of mouse biotissues and their optical phantoms

The optical characteristics of a barrier discharge in a mixture of heavy water vapor with argon in the wavelength region 200–315 nm are presented. The dependence of the radiation intensity of the OD (A → X) band at λ = 309 nm on the partial pressure of the D₂O vapor is studied, the mechanism of hydroxyl formation in the plasma is considered, and optimal compositions of pollution-free and inexpensive mixtures based on Ar-D₂O are determined for application in UV lamps, which are promising for use in photomedicine.     

XeI barrier discharge excilamp

Barrier discharges in Xe-I₂ (100-0.04 Torr) mixtures are studied experimentally and theoretically. It is shown that the experimental efficiency and the intensity of radiation in the B → X band of XeI* (253 nm) may reach 5.5% and 9 mW/cm², respectively. The simulation results show that the main energy loss channel is heating of ions. The radiation yield can be increased by shortening the applied voltage pulse duration.     

Optical characteristics and plasma parameters of a blue-green exciplex lamp

The optical characteristics and plasma parameters of an exciplex lamp radiating in the blue-green spectral range are studied. A plasma is generated by an atmospheric-pressure barrier discharge initiated in a quaternary mixture including mercury dibromide, sulfur hexafluoride, nitrogen, and helium. It is shown that the exciplex lamp can radiate at an elevated repetition rate of pump pulses (1–12 kHz) under the conditions of mixture self-heating. A tradeoff between the radiation power and nitrogen partial pressure is found. The mean specific radiation power in the blue-green range at a level of 480 mW/cm³ is achieved at partial vapor pressures of mercury dibromide, sulfur hexafluoride, nitrogen, and helium of 0.70, 0.07, 4.00, and 117.20 kPa, respectively. The plasma parameters, namely, the electron energy distribution function; concentration, temperature, and mean energy of electrons; transport properties; and rate constants of elastic and inelastic electron scattering by the working mixture components are determined as functions of ratio E/N (where E is the electric field strength and N is the total concentration of mercury dibromide, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen molecules and helium atoms). It is found that mercury monobromide molecules and also excited and higher energy states take part in the population of exciplex molecules HgBr* (B²Σ₁^2/+ states) in the course of quenching these exciplexes by sulfur hexafluoride and nitrogen molecules.     

Effective production of Xe<Subscript>2</Subscript>I excimer molecules by high-energy charged particles in Xe containing a small amount of C<Subscript>3</Subscript>F<Subscript>7</Subscript>I

An anomalously high efficiency of generating Xe₂I* excimer molecules in dense Xe–C₃F₇I gaseous mixtures with a small amount of C₃F₇I that are excited by a pulsed beam of fast electrons is discovered. The electron energy is 150 keV, and the beam current amplitude and duration are, respectively, 5 A and 5 ns. The temporal–spectral characteristics of spontaneous radiation from XeI* and Xe2I* excimer molecules are measured. Also, the luminescence times of the upper level for the B–X transition in the XeI* molecule (λ_max = 253 nm) and the upper level for the 4²Γ–1²Γ transition in the Xe₂I* molecule (λ = 352 nm), as well as the rate constants of quenching these levels by the gaseous mixture components, are determined. Based on the characteristics of the track structure of a high-energy plasma produced by charged particles in the dense gaseous medium, a model of plasma-chemical processes leading to the formation of XeI* (λ_max = 253 nm) and Xe₂I* (λ = 352 nmnm) excimer molecules in a Xe–C₃F₇I mixture with a small amount of an iodine atom donor is suggested.     

Efficiency of quenching of the B 2Σ 1 2/+ state of mercury monoiodide and monobromide by mercury dihalides in gas-discharge plasma in multicomponent mixtures of an exciplex radiation source

The efficiency of quenching of the B ²Σ ₁ ^2/+ state of HgBr* and HgI* exciplex molecules by vapors of mercury dihalides (HgBr₂ and HgI₂) in the gas-discharge plasma of a HgBr/HgI radiation source is determined. The measurement technique used is substantiated. The quenching rate constants of mercury monobromide and monoiodide exciplex molecules by mercury dihalides are 3.4 × 10^?10 and 1.1 × 10^?10 cm³/s, respectively.     

Emission characteristics of a high-power glow discharge plasma in a mixture of inert gases with bromine and iodine vapor

The results of an investigation of the UV radiation from the plasma of a dc glow discharge in mixtures of inert gases with bromine and iodine molecules are presented. The current-voltage and spectral characteristics of a longitudinal glow discharge with a power of 10–250 W are studied. The power and the efficiency of the total UV radiation of the plasma, as well as the power of radiation at the spectral line of the iodine atom at 206.2 nm, are optimized as functions of the power deposited into the plasma and the composition of the gas mixture. In active media based on Kr-Br₂ mixtures, the molecular emission of the plasma was represented by bands at 207 (KrBr(B-X)) and 289 nm (Br ₂ ^* ), while, in He-Xe-I₂ mixtures, it was represented by bands at 253 (XeI(B-X)) and 342 nm (I₂).     

Radiation of the Plasma of a Transverse Discharge in a Helium–Krypton–Elegas Mixture

We carried out a spectroscopic investigation of the degradation of the active medium of a pulsed-periodic KrF emitter based on a He/Kr/SF₆ mixture (P = 10–150 kPa) with pumping by a transverse volumetric discharge. The plasma radiation spectra in the range 200–620 nm at different stages of degradation of the working mixture and the dynamics of the radiation of inert gases as well as of the products of decomposition of SF₆ molecules in the plasma are studied. It is shown that since the number of discharge pulses is 10⁴, rather effective formation of excited sulfur molecules is observed which decompose with emission in the spectral range 260–550 nm. This can be employed for developing a wideband lamp based on the system of KrF(B–X; D–X), S₂(B–X), and S₂(f–a) bands.     

The B → X system of diatomic antimony

Emission spectrum of Sb₂ has been obtained in a high-frequency discharge through a mixture of neon and antimony vapor. Vibrational analysis of the visible bands (4725–6700 Å) is carried out in accordance with the isotope effect, and shows that all the observed bands may be classified into one system only (B → X). Rotational analysis of the 2-2 transition is given for the three isotopic Sb₂ molecules and leads to the corresponding B_v and D_v values for B (v = 2) and X (v = 2) levels.     

Emission characteristics of a barrier discharge in an Ar-H2O mixture

We have experimentally studied the UV radiation of a low-temperature barrier discharge plasma in an Ar-H₂O mixture. The spectral interval 300–400 nm has been examined in detail. Addition of argon with a pressure of 24 kPa to a barrier discharge in water vapor at a pressure of ～0.1 kPa leads to a ninefold increase in the UV radiation power of excited hydroxyl molecules. An increase in the duration of the UV radiation pulse of the mixture in the longitudinal discharge decay has been achieved for the first time, which may be direct evidence of energy transfer from metastable argon atoms to water molecules. An estimate of the upper boundary of the dissociative excitation rate constant of hydroxyl molecules OH*(A ²Σ⁺) upon interaction of metastable argon atoms with water molecules has been obtained.     

Formation of the XeI excimer sustained by dielectric barrier discharge in Xe／I2 at low pressure

Dielectric barrier discharge is used to study the mechanism of XeI excimer formation in the mixture of Xe and I₂ at low pressures (<1330 Pa). Fluorescence emission in the spectral region of 200－260 nm is examined. We report on the characteristics of the 253 nm emission intensity which varied with different total pressure. The results indicate that under the present experimental conditions, electron impact is the major reaction producing the excimer XeI(B), interpreted as Xe⁺+I₂^-→XeI(B)+ I^*, then radiating 253 nm fluorescence from transition B→X. The 253 nm emission increases with the total gas pressure up to a maximum value at a pressure of about 540 Pa, then decreases as the gas pressure is further increased. The 206 nm emission is determined by I^* from ionic recombination between Xe⁺ and I₂^-. This result differs from previous works under other experimental conditions.     

Emission characteristics of a glow discharge in a mixture of heavy inert gases with iodine vapor

The results of a systematic investigation of the emission characteristics of a low-pressure UV excimer-halogen lamp pumped by a longitudinal dc glow discharge are presented. The discharge was initiated in mixtures of heavy inert gases with iodine vapor at a total pressure of 100–2000 Pa and a power deposited into the plasma of 10–100 W. Current-voltage characteristics of the glow discharge and emission spectra of the plasma in the region of 190–360 nm are studied. The radiation intensity at the resonance line of the iodine atom (206.2 nm) and the intensity at the peaks of the XeI(B-X) (253 nm) and I₂(B-X) (342 nm) emission bands are analyzed as functions of the pressure and partial composition of the mixtures of Ar, Kr, and Xe with iodine vapor, as well as the electric power of the glow discharge. The most efficient gas mixtures are determined for an electric-discharge UV iodine vapor lamp with continuous-wave emission and a long service life before a change of the mixture is required.