Optical Radiation of a Gas Discharge in an Argon-Sulfur Mixture

Plasma luminescence spectra of longitudinal repetitively pulsed discharge in a mixture of argon-sulfur were investigated in the spectral range 300-1000 nm. The major emitting plasma components, such as S-2 molecules, sulfur atoms, and ions, are formed as a result of the fragmentation of clusters and sulfur molecules, which starts at energies of similar to 10 eV. Plasma radiation power increases three-fold on heating the discharge tube from similar to 50(o)C to 120(o)C.