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

An overview is given of the various processes which may occur in an argon-h ydrogen glow discharge plasma, including the cross sections and rate coeffi cients compiled from the literature. Based on a simple balance equation, th e dissociation degree of H-2 is estimated for typical GD-MS and GD-OES cond itions. Further, the effects of H-2 molecules and H atoms on the argon anal ytical glow discharge are predicted, i.e., a drop in argon ion (and maybe e lectron) density, a drop in argon metastable atom density and a change in t he electron energy distribution function. Based on these predicted effects, we try to explain observed changes in analytical characteristics.