Electric properties, spectroscopy, and singlet delta oxygen yield of electron-beam sustained discharge in oxygen gas mixtures

Abstract

Electric properties and spectroscopy of an e-beam sustained discharge (EBSD) in oxygen and oxygen gas mixtures at gas pressures up to 100 Torr was experimentally studied in large excitation volume (~18 liter). The discharge in pure oxygen and its mixtures with noble gases was shown to be very unstable and characterized by low input energy. When adding small amount of carbon monoxide or hydrogen, the electric stability of the discharge increases, specific input energy per molecular component being higher more than order of magnitude and coming up to 6.5 kJ/(l atm). Theoretical calculations demonstrated that for the experimental conditions the singlet delta oxygen yield may reach ~20% exceeding its threshold value needed for oxygen-iodine laser operation at room temperature. The results of experiments on spectroscopy of the singlet delta and singlet sigma oxygen states in the EBSD are presented.