The Influence of Molecular Gas on the Apokamp Discharge Formation

Abstract

Emission spectra of apokamp discharge plasma jets in CO₂, Ar, Kr, N₂, and their mixtures have been studied. It has been shown that the emission spectra of the Kr–N₂ mixture contain N₂ and ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ bands, as well as Kr lines. The spectrum of the Ar–CO₂ mixture is presented by bands of the Fox–Duffendack–Barker system and lines of the exited argon atom. In all gas media under study, the reduction of the molecular gas quantity leads to the transition from an apokampic discharge in the form of a diffusion jet developing from the current channel to a volume discharge with a strong transverse glowing. The experimental apparatus described in this work is proposed for use in laboratory investigations of spectral characteristics of transient luminous events observed in atmospheres of planets of the Solar System.