Short-wavelength nanosecond-barrier-discharge-pumped emitter operating on lines of argon chloride (175 nm) and chlorine (258 nm) molecules

The emission characteristics of a pulsed-periodic nanosecond-barrier-discharge-pumped source of ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet radiation are presented. The source emits into a set of electronic-vibrational bands with maxima at $\lambda$ = 175 nm ArCl(B $\to$ X) and $\lambda$ = 258 nm Cl$_2$(D' $\to$ A'). The emission intensity of ArCl and Cl$_2$ molecules is optimized for the pressure and composition of an argon-freon vapor (CCl$_4$) mixture and also for excitation conditions.