Determination of absolute population densities of eroded tungsten in hollow cathode lamps and fluorescent lamps by laser-induced fluorescence

The high energy ion bombardment during instant start of a fluorescent lamp (FL) leads to intense sputtering of the electrode material including tungsten and emitter. Thus, a cold started FL often suffers from early failures due to coil fracture. The main goal of this paper is to investigate tungsten erosion. We have employed the ultra-sensitive method of laser-induced fluorescence. This technique is particularly well-suited to determining absolute population densities of neutral and singly ionized atoms of liberated electrode material. In addition to FL, our investigations have been performed also on hollow cathode lamps (HCLs). These are useful because they provide a variable source of sputtered tungsten atoms and can serve as tuning tools for precise adjustment of the laser radiation. We will present absolute atomic tungsten population densities in a commercial FL and in an HCL. Furthermore, the results of a theoretical investigation of the argon plasma and the tungsten density in the HCL are represented.