Lichtemission im Vakuumultraviolett durch Elektronenstoßanregung in Gasen

Abstract

A nearly monochromatic electron beam of low energy (0—200 eV) interacts with molecules of a gas (O₂, N₂ etc.). The radiation emitted in this collision process is observed with a vacuum-monochromator. The registered wave-length can be attributed to known transitions. The excitation-functions and the appearance potentials of these processes are measured. It is found that the electrons dissociate the molecules in a single collision into excited atoms or ions which emit a radiation in the vacuum-ultraviolet. Furthermore it is shown that the above mentioned processes also appear in low-current corona-discharges and in non-self-sustaining discharges in the homogeneous electric field. The origin of the so-called gas-ionizing radiation is found to be a dissociation process combined with an excitation of the dissociation products.