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High‐pressure scanning tunnelling microscopy study of microscopic gas discharges
Author(s) -
Möller D.,
Rüetschi M.,
Haefke H.,
Güntherodt H.J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
surface and interface analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1096-9918
pISSN - 0142-2421
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9918(199905/06)27:5/6<525::aid-sia518>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - quantum tunnelling , bar (unit) , plasma , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , microscope , microscopy , gas pressure , electric discharge in gases , electrode , materials science , optics , optoelectronics , electrical engineering , physics , chromatography , quantum mechanics , meteorology , petroleum engineering , engineering
Abstract A high‐pressure scanning tunnelling microscope was built tostudy the behaviour and properties of microscopic electrical gasdischarges. Gas discharges could be produced with different electrodegeometries and materials in a wide pressure range of 1–200 bar.The influence of these parameters on the formation of a plasma,occurring at the breakdown of an electrical gas discharge, isdiscussed in detail. The properties of a plasma in ahigh‐pressure environment are compared to those inlow‐pressure regimes. An experimental set‐up wasdesigned for detailed plasma diagnostics by means of opticalspectroscopy. First measurements of spectra show that this approachis suitable for the investigation of microscopic gas discharges.Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.