The temporal behaviour of emission from excited metal atoms in the cathode region of a pulsed discharge in air

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Abstract
In the emission spectrum of the cathode region of a repetitive, pulsed discharge in air, lines are observed which correspond to excitation of atoms of cathode material, with a very different temporal behaviour from the N2 molecular bands which form the major part of the spectrum. It is thought that these lines are due to excitation by electron impact of metal atoms sputtered from the cathode surface by positive ion bombardment. By assuming that the structure of the cathode region is similar to that of a low pressure glow discharge, it is possible to develop a model for the temporal behaviour of the line emission in following the diffusion of the sputtered atoms through the various zones of the cathode fall and negative glow. The calculations reproduce the major features of the behaviour observed in the experiments.