VERIFICATION OF H- FORMATION IN ULTRAVIOLET-LASER-IRRADIATED HYDROGEN- IMPLICATIONS FOR NEGATIVE-ION AND NEUTRAL BEAM TECHNOLOGIES

Photodetachment and ion mobility measurements are reported confirming the efficient H- formation in UV-laser-irradiated H-2 reported earlier [L. A. Pinnaduwage and L. G. Christophorou, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 754 (1993)]. The implications of the efficienct H- formation in UV-laser-i rradiated H-2 (and other types of negative ions in UV-laser-irradiated gases) for negative ion and neutral particle beam technologies are di scussed. Also, the possible contribution to H- formation in H-2 discha rge sources from electron attachment to high-lying electronically exci ted states of H-2 is indicated.