Point-like pulse-periodic UV radiation source with a short pulse duration

The radiation of discharge plasma was investigated in the nanosecond breakdown of short interelectrode gaps in a nonuniform electric field. Voltage pulses with an incident wave amplitude of ∼10 kV, a FWHM duration of ∼1 ns, and a rise time of ∼200 ps were used. X-ray radiation from the discharge gap was recorded for an interelectrode gap of 0.5 mm, which confirms the generation of runaway electrons in the discharge formation. In the pulse-periodic air breakdown of a 0.5-mm wide gap at atmospheric pressure, the lines of electrode materials and the continuum were shown to make the main contribution to the plasma emission; the highest radiation intensity fell on the 200 - 300 nm region, which accounted for ∼40% of the total emission energy.