Pressure dependence of a pure krypton mono-filamentary dielectric barrier discharge

Université de Toulouse, LAPLACE UMR CNRS 5213, UPS, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France

Corresponding author: nofel.merbahi@laplace.univ-tlse.fr

Received: 30 June 2009
Revised: 14 September 2009
Accepted: 24 September 2009
Published online: 26 November 2009

Abstract

Stable mono-filamentary dielectric barrier discharges (MF-DBDs) are achieved between two insulated electrodes in pure krypton, between 100 and 600Torr. Electrical characterization, spectroscopic and kinetic analyses of the MF-DBD are performed. The fast supply current pulse provides reliable triggering for spectroscopic measurements thus allowing an in situ kinetic study. Only the second continuum of krypton is observed and it is attributed to krypton excimers Kr₂[ 1_u(³P₂)] _lowv which are correlated to the Kr(³P₂) metastable atomic state. Its intensity increases with pressure, due to an enhancement of 3-body collisions with ground state atoms. The kinetic analysis of the luminescence decay of this emission in the post excitation phase, leads to only two exponential components. The pressure dependence of each decay frequency allowed determination of the radiative lifetime of Kr₂[ 1_u(³P₂)] _{low v} excimers and the 3-body collisional rate constant of formation of Kr₂[ 1_u(³P₂)] _{high v} ones are determined.