Radio-frequency pulse discharge for investigating reactions in electrical discharges

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Abstract
A radio-frequency pulse discharge through low-pressure gases has been developed, the pulse duration being variable in the microsecond region. Under the discharge conditions chosen, the degree of ionization in the gas is very low and the major primary processes are molecular excitation and dissociation to radicals. These transient species are detected by their emission spectra for long duration pulses (several hundred mu s), and by their absorption spectra with short duration pulses (down to 10 mu s). For the short duration pulses, the kinetics of radical reactions during and after the pulse can be investigated by the application of kinetic spectroscopy with microsecond time resolution. This pulse discharge technique should make a useful contribution to elucidating radical reaction mechanisms in gaseous electrical discharges which, at present, are not well understood.