In a Z-pinch test using Pulsotron-3 fusion reactor, I have seen at high-speed camera that a pyrex glass generated a beautiful green light during some milliseconds after the electromagnetic pulse was finished.
The magnetic field was over 300 kilotesla in the target that was several centimeters from the pyrex glass.
It can be seen under "Project log" here:
https://www.researchgate.net/project/PULSOTRON-500k-SE-500KeV-THERMONUCLEAR-FUSION-REACTOR
The pyrex glass was broken but I think there was not a high-temperature raise in the glass. What could generate the luminescence?
Hola Javier,
Very intereasting observation. From our research on Xe excimer discharge lamps using a quartz or borosilicate glass vessel, we observe sometimes green luminescence, which we have attributed to the loss of Oxygen which goes hand in hand with the breakage of Si-O-Si bonds and thus subsequent Si2+ formation. These low valent Silica species cause defects in the glass structure and the vessel might be destroyed upon long term operation. Possible degraded glass can show luminescence due to either an [Ne]s2-[Ne]sp transition of Si2+ or other colour centers (low valent boron species).
You may find more information on the quartz /glass damage in the following paper, while I assume that pyrex (borosilicate glass) behave similar:
Green luminescence in silica glass: A possible indicator of subsurface fracture
Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 114103 (2012); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3693393
Thank you Thomas,
We had fractures not only at the subsurface but at all the pyrex tube. I have to replace tubes after tests and remove glass pieces from the Pulsotron-3 surface.
I do not know if some oxygen is lost in the glass, but I think it is an electromagnetic or high pressure effect as when I place small PT100 termistors we do not detect increase in the temperature
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