Copper Emission Lines Research Articles

Observation of singly-ionized copper emission lines from a Grimm-type glow discharge plasma with argon—helium gas mixtures in a visible wavelength region

Summary In the argon—helium plasmas, the emission lines of singly-ionized copper, which cannot be excited in the pure argon plasma, can be observed in the visible wavelength region. These lines are identified to the 3 d 9 4 f —3 d 9 4 d , 3 d 9 5 d —3 d 9 5 p , or 3 d 9 6 s —3 d 9 4 p transitions. The collisional reactions occurring and the resonance energy transfer between copper atoms and helium ions are a feasible mechanism for the observed excitations.

Spectrometric studies of excitation mechanisms on singly-ionized copperemission lines in Grimm-type glow discharge plasmas with helium mixture technique

Excitation mechanisms of copper ionic emission lines were investigated in Grimm-type discharge plasmas. Addition of He to the Ar or Ne plasma gas was used to study the plasma characteristics. It was concluded that the excitations can be principally attributed to (resonance) charge transfer reactions between Cu atoms and plasma gas species.

A spectroscopic investigation of electrode material entrained into the extinguishing arc of SF6 circuit breaker

Spectra of SF6 circuit breaker arcs during the arc extinction phase following peak currents up to 53 kA have obtained in the wavelength range 510-517 nm. Copper emission lines and irregularly occurring tungsten emission lines from entrained contact material have been identified and the ratio of the number density of tungsten to copper atoms estimated from the line intensities. An approximate radial distribution of both copper and tungsten line intensities has also been obtained. The irregular occurrence of tungsten in the arc plasma column and the restricted extent of the tungsten line emitting cross section are both believed to be a consequence of the complicated evaporation processes associated with the copper-tungsten contact. An approximate correlation is shown to exist between the occurrence of tungsten line emission at the critical instant of current zero when current interruption is sought and a sharp deterioration in the current interrupting ability of the breaker. The implication of this is that the hitherto neglected presence of tungsten at current zero, as distinct from copper, contributes in combination with the already known effects of flow throttling and nozzle ablation in determining the extent of the degradation of circuit breaker performance.

Excitation in a Transient Arc Discharge†

ABSTRACT The intensity ratio of two copper emission lines was measured as a function of time for a transient arc in free air, using two photormultipliers simultaneously. The results are compatible with the thermal nature of the high-pressure arc, but indicate that for temperature measurement the usual assumption of Boltzmann populations may not be sufficient in an unsteady discharge of this type.