Low-Pressure Glow Discharge in a Xenon/Chlorine Mixture

A. K. Shuaibov, L. L. Shimon, I. V. Shevera, and A. I. Dashchenko

Uzhhorod National University, vul. Pidgirna 46, Uzhhorod, 88000 Ukraine

Received April 5, 2002; in final form, June 26, 2002

Abstract—The spatial, electrical, and optical characteristics of a transverse glow discharge and a volume dis-
charge with a spherical anode and plane cathode in low-pressure Xe/Cl₂ mixtures are studied. It is shown that the
transverse glow discharge in mixtures with a low chlorine content occupies most of the interelectrode gap and
exists in the form of strata. As the total pressure (P 300 Pa) and the partial chlorine pressure (P(Cl₂) 80Pa)
increase, a solitary plasma domain with a volume of 1–2 cm³ forms in the discharge gap. It acts as a selective
source of UV radiation in the XeCl(D–X) 236-nm, Cl₂(D'–A') 257-nm, and XeCl(B–X) 308-nm bands. In cer-
tain Xe/Cl₂ mixtures, plasma self-oscillations in the frequency range 1–100 kHz are observed. The current of a
low-pressure volume discharge with a spherical anode and plane cathode and the emission from it have both a
dc and an ac component. The pressure and composition of the working mixture, as well as the average current
of the volume discharge are optimized to attain the maximum emission intensity of the XeCl(D, B–X) bands.
Low-pressure volume discharges in xenon/chlorine mixtures can be used as active media in low-pressure
largeaperture planar or cylindrical excimer–halogen lamps emitting modulated or repetitive pulsed UV radiation.
© 2002 MAIK “Nauka/Interperiodica”.

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