The Band Fluorescence of Mercury Vapor

Abstract

The band fluorescence of mercury vapor excited by the 2537A atomic line has been studied during the afterglow. Time sampling techniques were employed to overcome difficulties attending the measurement of very low-intensity radiations. The two main band constituents (centered at 4850A and 3350A) were found to decay simultaneously under all conditions investigated. The temporal structure of the decaying fluorescence was found to be characterized by two time constants and has the form associated with chain types reactions. The two time constants and the relative intensities of the 4850A and 3350A bands were measured for a range of vapor densities at a fixed vapor temperature. In order to evaluate the role of diffusion in the lifetime of the excited particles involved, measurements were made in vessels of two different sizes.