Project Title:

A Compact, Vacuum Ultraviolet Light Source Based Upon Dielectric-Barrier Discharge Technology

92-1-08.15-0003A                                                  NAS05-32437
A Compact, Vacuum Ultraviolet Light Source Based
     Upon Dielectric-Barrier Discharge Technology
Physical Sciences, Inc.
20 New England Business Center
Andover, MA  01810
Lawrence G. Piper                                    (508-689-0003)

Abstract:

     Phase I will conduct an experimental approach to demonstrate
the innovative application of dielectric-barrier discharge
technology for producing compact, high-flux, vacuum ultraviolet
(VUV) light sources. This project will demonstrate a wide range of
dielectric-barrier discharge VUV light sources, including line,
molecular and continuum sources, and will explore in detail each
source's long-term stability and reproducibility. The project will
also compare the relative performance of dielectric-barrier and
low power microwave discharge lamps. This project expects to
demonstrate the superiority of dielectric-barrier discharge
sources over currently used rf discharge sources in terms of
compactness, flux, energy efficiency, and mechanical and
electrical simplicity.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications:  These sources will find ready
application in space experiments as onboard spectroscopic
calibration sources and as sources of resonance radiation that can
measure the number densities of upper atmospheric constituents.
Their laboratory applications include use as calibration sources,
light sources in spectroscopic and kinetic studies, and as sources
of radiation for materials degradation studies. Commercially, the
dielectric-barrier discharge light sources developed in this
project will have application as calibration light sources, light
sources for contaminant removal from surfaces, photoetching of
semiconductor surfaces, photo-assisted CVD processes, and various
air and water purification processes.

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