Anode spots in a glow discharge of helium-neon mixture

Abstract

Anode spots have been investigated using an emission spectroscopic method in a glow discharge of a helium-neon mixture, under medium pressures of(3.7-42.7)/spl times/10/sup 2/ Pa, weak currents of 10-50 mA, and ratios of 10:1 and 1:10 (He:Ne). Axial and radial spectral intensities were measured versus the pressure and current for lines 703.2 nm and 585.2 nm in neon and 706.52 nm in helium spectra in the anode region, with the help of the scanning method for a plane anode occupying the total cross section of the discharge tube. Numerical calculations on the relative intensities versus the pressure have been carried out at distance of 1.5 cm from the anode, for several spectral lines in neon: 585.2 nm, 640.2 nm, and 703.2 nm, for the ratio 10:1, at pressures of (3.7-36.7)/spl times/10/sup 2/ Pa, and current of 15 mA. The experimental and numerical results were compared, and a reasonable agreement was observed.