Kinetics of radiative species in helium pulsed discharge at atmospheric pressure

Time variations of spectral line intensities of a helium dielectric dischar ge at atmospheric pressure have been analyzed by emission spectroscopy. A d ielectric barrier controlled glow discharge with polymer films on the elect rodes (O: 0.04 m, interelectrode distance: 0.005 m) is produced with a sinu soidal voltage of ca 800 Vr.m.s. The discharge is characterized by a curren t peak in each half cycle, its duration is of the order of 5 x 10(-6) s at 10(4) Hz. The radiative emission species are helium lines and mainly N-2, N -2(+), CO+, CO2 and OH bands coming from impurities which were in part deso rbed from the polymer surfaces. From the time variations of band emissions, the main kinetic reactions at the origin of radiative species are discusse d. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.