Parametric study of Xe₂ ^* dimer in high-pressure electrical discharges

Abstract.

Optical and electrical properties of a high-pressure discharge of pure xenon and xenon-helium and xenon-neon mixtures are studied experimentally. Uniform discharge at total gas pressure as high as 10 atm is achieved in xenon-lean mixtures. Vacuum ultraviolet emissions due to the first and second continua of Xe₂ ^* are examined spectroscopically. The vibrational relaxation rate constant k_He of Xe₂ ^* by helium is determined to be of the order of 10^-11 cm³ s^-1 from spectroscopic data. Laser oscillation for the 172-nm band was attempted without success. Discharge instability at high gas pressures is considered to the cause of the unsuccessful laser experiments. Some issues related to discharge instability in a high-pressure rare-gas discharge are discussed.