The imprisonment of the 2537-A resonance radiation from mercury in the mercury-argon discharge of fluorescent lamps is treated by a Monte Carlo method. The effects of emission and absorption linewidths, hyperfine splitting, isotopic composition, collisional transfers of excitation, and quenching are explicitly incorporated in the calculations. The calculated spectra of emitted radiation are in good agreement with measured spectra for several combinations of lamp temperature and mercury composition. Also in agreement with experiments, the addition of '80Hg to natural mercury is found to increase lamp efficiency. The method is useful for a number of problems in radiation transfer.

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Calculations of the steady-state electron swarm parameters in rare gases and mixtures are reported. The Townsend ionization coefficient α, electron drift velocity W, and diffusion coefficient D for He, Ne, Ar, and (10% Ar+90% Ne) are calculated as a function of E/N over an extended range (up to 5650 Td) by solving the Boltzmann equation. Total excitation cross sections qx for He, Ne, and Ar have been determined by fitting calculated values of α to experimental literature values over E/N=28–280 Td. Our treatment of the Boltzmann equation takes into account effects of electron density gradient, generation of new electrons and electron-electron interaction. Calculated values of α and W are in good agreement with available experimental data up to highest values of E/N. Comparison of the other parameters has not been made due to insufficient experimental data, especially for high E/N.

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