Photon yield for ultraviolet and visible emission from CF4 excited with α-particles

Carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) photon yield, defined as the number of photons emitted per 1 MeV of energy deposited in the gas is reported for the ultraviolet (220–500 nm) and visible (500–800 nm) emission in the pressure range from 0.5 to 5 bar. An Am-241 α-source was used for gas excitation. Emission spectra (corrected for the response of the detection system) are given in the range from 200 to 800 nm. The visible emission, which is weak at 0.5 bar, strongly increases with gas pressure and dominates the emission spectrum at 5 bar.