Adsorption of arc radiation by a cold SF/sub 6/ gas

Summary form only given. When an electrical arc is initiated between contacts, light radiation is a typical arc manifestation. This radiation is absorbed in different ways by the surrounding gas. After the hot region of the arc, this radiation propagates in a relatively cold gas at ambient temperature. The measurement of the radiation absorption in the latter case is considered in the present work. The optical spectrum of the arc-emitted light stretches from X-rays to two infrared region. To study the radiation at small distances from the arc a special system of protection of the detector window has been developed. The light detector was placed in a hermetic tube with argon or SF/sub 6/, where argon served as a reference gas. Comparison of the measured power when radiation passes through the SF/sub 6/ Ar shows that up to 27% of the emitted light radiation can be absorbed by a cold SF/sub 6/ gas.