Power deposition in H-2 and H-2-N-2 glow discharges

Analyses and experiments on the fractional dissociation of H-2 in glow discharges in pure H-2 and in H-2-N-2 mixtures are reported. The fractional power deposited in the dissociation of H-2 calculated from the Boltzmann transport analysis compares well with that required by our experimental data for absolute H atom densities. The analysis also provides generic guidelines towards identification of dominant dissociation processes in molecular gas mixture discharges. The results for low current glow discharges in H-2-N-2 mixtures show that the vibrational energy reservoir of N-2(X(1) Sigma(g)(+) v) must directly or indirectly be an important factor in the dissociation of H-2.