Abstract

The light from near the electrodes of an ac glow discharge in helium is found to be particularly rich in the He₂ spectrum. This light occurs at an unusual phase of the voltage cycle.

The process which forms excited molecules also gives rise to excited atoms. Furthermore, the process is inhibited by the presence of an electric field.

There are indications that the process is one of recombination between electrons and atomic positive ions.

© 1951 Optical Society of America

Helium Level Populations in a Glow Discharge*

William J. Condell
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 50(6) 610-616 (1960)

Glow Discharge Resonance

A. B. Stewart
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 45(8) 651-657 (1955)

Excitation Temperature in Time-Resolved Spectra of Single Condensed Spark Discharges*

Leon Blitzer and Willoughby M. Cady
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 41(7) 440-445 (1951)

Spectroscopic Study of the Early Helium Afterglow*

William S. Bickel and C. R. Burnett
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 55(11) 1504-1508 (1965)

Spatial Inhomogeneities in the Pulsed Glow Discharge

D. R. Pond and A. Garscadden
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 56(11) 1565-1567 (1966)