Cathaphoretic confinement of Zn evaporated into helium and neon discharges

Cathaphoresis of Zn evaporated into the positive column of helium and neon discharges was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The side -light intensity of the Zn-I 518.2 nm transition was recorded along a 4.5 c m long positive column discharge with an inner diameter of 3 mm. The buffer gas pressure was varied between 10 and 25 mbar while discharge currents of 20-60 mA were applied to the tube. Reasonably good agreement was found bet ween the experimental data and the theoretically predicted axial distributi on of zinc concentration in the tube. The results can be useful in the desi gn of the cathaphoretic confinement section of the different He-Zn laser tu bes and a prospective Ne-Zn laser system, which would operate in the deep u ltraviolet region (210 nn).