Nanosecond Background Source for Flash Photolysis

Abstract

A single-flash continuous spectrum producing more than adequate photographic density and having maximum intensity in the near ultraviolet is obtained in an argon-air mixture at elevated pressure by means of a light source1 of 20–30 nsec halfwidth. Tails of the light pulse are reduced by a distributed resistor which decreases the ringing of the current. The resistor is plated on the capacitor transmission line of the source. Absorption spectra show the usefulness of this source as a nanosecond spectroscopic background source for flash photolysis.