Characteristics of a self-initiating pulse-periodic discharge in a Kr/SF6 gas mixture

The characteristics are given of a low-pressure, volume, pulse-periodic discharge in a krypton/SF6 gas mixture, accompanied by the formation of a domain in a "spherical anode-flat cathode" system of electrodes. It is shown that, when a dc voltage of U-ch less than or equal to 1.0 W is applied to the anode, a volume pulse-periodic discharge with a pulse repetition rate of 0.1 to 120 kHz is ignited in the interelectrode gap. The static and dynamic current-voltage characteristics of the discharge are investigated, as well as the plasma radiation spectra in the range from 130 to 350 nm, oscillograms of voltage across the discharge gap, of the current and radiation of plasma, the dependence of the radiation brightness of the 249-nm KrF(B-X) band on the mean discharge current, and the resource characteristics of radiation on the electronic-vibrational transitions of an excimer molecule. It is demonstrated that the domain plasma may be-used in a low-pressure pulse-periodic excimer lamp emitting in the 230 nm KrF(D-X)/249 nm KrF(B-X) band system. The active medium proper plays the role of the commutator in the lamp, and a dc voltage source is used to ignite the discharge. Such lamps can be used in polymer chemistry, biology, potable water purification systems, for the sterilization of medical instruments, and in micro- and quantum electronics.