Improved Lyman-continuum flash-source of large aperture

Abstract

Some of the difficulties attending use of earlier "Lyman flash-tubes," as background sources for vacuum-ultra-violet absorption spectroscopy, have been mitigated or removed in a design employing a 1 cm bore constricting tube. The successful features of the device described have resulted from use of capacitors of high resonant frequency, the design of a discharge-tube of low inductance, and avoidance of a series spark-gap.