Absolutmessung der kontinuierlichen Strahlung des Heliums im Lichtbogen von λ = 109 bis 540 nm / Measurement of the Helium Continuum Radiation from λ = 109 to 540 nm in an Arc Plasma

Absolute helium emission coefficients have been measured from 540 nm down to 109 nm in the near vuv. The radiation originates from the axis of a cylindrical He-arc of 2 mm ∅ at one atmosphere with electron temperatures between 25000 K and 26500 K. The electron densities range from 3.0 · 1016 cm-3 to 4.0 · 1016 cm-3 and have been determined independently from other plasma parameters by means of line shape measurements. The density of atoms and their kinetic temperature have been calculated from the energy balance of the electrons and Dalton's law. Comparison of the measured helium continuum emission coefficients with theoretical calculations in the wavelength range from 540 nm to 400 nm shows that, in this experiment, the radiation due to bremsstrahlung in the field of atoms must not be neglected. Taking into account this contribution very good agreement with theoretical calculations over the whole investigated spectral range from 540 nm down to 109 nm has been found. Thus the present experiment confirms the theoretical results for the photoionisation coefficients from the n = 2 and n = 3 levels. On the basis of these results the helium continuum radiation may be used for calibration purposes, which is of particular interest in the vuv.