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.