DISSOCIATION OF HYDROGEN IN GLOW-DISCHARGES IN HYDROGEN NITROGEN MIXTURES

Results from a theoretical study of electron and heavy particle kinetics of H-2 in glow discharges through H-2-N-2 mixtures are presented. It is shown that for small concentrations of the additive in %N-2-%H-2, the effects on the discharge impedance are diagnostic probes providing crucial information regarding the dissociation and ionization balances. The results show that for low discharge currents (<80 mA), medium gas pressures (>1 Torr), and approximate to 10%-80%H-2-N-2 mixture composition, collisions between excited electronic states of N-2 with H-2 are the dominant dissociation channels of H-2 in %H-2-%N-2 discharges.