Carbon monoxide emission in VUV spectral region upon excitation of natural gas by a capacitive discharge.

Upon excitation of natural gas by a capacitive electrodeless discharge, an intense excitation of the (4⁺) band system of CO in the region of 150-200 nm was observed. Excited CO molecules are accumulated as a result of plasmochemical reactions in the gas-discharge plasma. At a pressure of 15 Torr, a pulse repletion frequency of 100 kHz, and a specific excitation power of ~300 mW/cm³, the power density of radiation of the (4⁺) band system of CO from the external surface of a radiator was ~5 mW/cm² at an efficiency of up to ~2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]