Effects of adding hydrogen to an argon glow discharge: overview of relevant processes and some qualitative explanations

Abstract

An overview is given of the various processes which may occur in an argon–hydrogen glow discharge plasma, including the cross sections and rate coefficients compiled from the literature. Based on a simple balance equation, the dissociation degree of H2 is estimated for typical GD-MS and GD-OES conditions. Further, the effects of H2 molecules and H atoms on the argon analytical glow discharge are predicted, i.e., a drop in argon ion (and maybe electron) density, a drop in argon metastable atom density and a change in the electron energy distribution function. Based on these predicted effects, we try to explain observed changes in analytical characteristics.