Influence of gas discharge parameters on emissions from a dielectric barrier discharge excited argon excimer lamp
Date
2011-11
Authors
Baricholo, Peter
Hlatywayo, Dumisani J.
Von Bergmann, Hubertus M.
Stehmann, Timo
Rohwer, Erick
Collier, Mike
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ASSAF -- Academy of Science of South Africa
Abstract
A dielectric barrier discharge excited neutral argon (Ar I) excimer lamp has been developed and
characterised. The aim of this study was to develop an excimer lamp operating at atmospheric
pressure that can replace mercury lamps and vacuum equipment used in the sterilisation
of medical equipment and in the food industry. The effects of discharge gas pressure, flow
rate, excitation frequency and pulse width on the intensity of the Ar I vacuum ultraviolet
(VUV) emission at 126 nm and near infrared (NIR) lines at 750.4 nm and 811.5 nm have been
investigated. These three lines were chosen as they represent emissions resulting from deexcitation
of excimer states that emit energetic photons with an energy of 9.8 eV. We observed
that the intensity of the VUV Ar2* excimer emission at 126 nm increased with increasing
gas pressure, but decreased with increasing excitation pulse frequency and pulse width. In
contrast, the intensities of the NIR lines decreased with increasing gas pressure and increased
with increasing pulse frequency and pulse width. We have demonstrated that energetic VUV
photons of 9.8 eV can be efficiently generated in a dielectric barrier discharge in Ar.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.sajs.co.za/
Keywords
Atmospheric pressure, Electric discharges through gases, Excimer lasers, Vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy, Gas emission
Citation
Baricholo, P. et al. 2011. Influence of gas
discharge parameters on emissions from a dielectric barrier discharge excited argon excimer lamp. South African Journal of Science, 107(11/12), doi.org/10.4102/sajs.v107i11/12.581.