Intensities of 2288 Å and 3261 Å Radiation from Low-Pressure Cadmium Rare-Gas Discharges

Abstract
The uv power radiated, at 3261 Å and 2288 Å, and the input power to the positive column of Cd‐1.6‐Torr Ar and Cd‐5‐Torr Ne discharges are presented for both ac and dc currents. The maximum 3261‐Å radiation output occurs at a Cd pressure in the range from 5 to 10 mTorr, the same pressure range as found for Hg in the Hg rare‐gas low‐pressure discharge. The Cd discharge is compared with the well‐known Hg‐3‐Torr Ar discharge, using a simplified model for the discharge. It is believed that the Cd‐1.6‐Torr Ar data presented here are near the optimum uv production efficiency for the Cd rare‐gas discharge.