PLASMA PHYSICS EXCIMER EMISSION OF OPEN AND CLOSED MICROHOLLOW CATHODE DISCHARGES IN XENON

In the open and closed geometry of microhollow cathode discharges the excimer emission recorded end-on from the anode side is at least by two order of magnitudes lower than from the cathode side and also the shapes of the excimer spectra are different. But, for a constant dc current, the excimer emission from the anode side strongly increases with the xenon pressure, independent on the micro cathode geometry. The phenomena are explained by density changes due to the different gas heating inside and outside the micro cathode hole. Key words: Low temperature plasma excimer radiation, plane and microhollow cathode discharges. 1