Preliminary spectroscopic measurements on a low-pressure argon, 2.45 GHz microwave-fed QL-lamp

In this paper a preliminary spectroscopic study of a microwave version (2.45 GHz) of the electrodeless QL-lamp from Philips is presented. Different spontaneously emitted lines by the argon and mercury atoms existing in the discharge have been measured. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium concepts are applied to radiating excited atomic levels. This permits us to infer some information about the excitation temperature in the lamp as well as the possible mechanisms of species excitation involved in this system.