The repetitive microwave discharge as a catalyst for a chemical reaction

Results are presented from studies on plasma catalysis of the decomposition of methane into hydrogen and carbon in a repetitive microwave discharge. T he dependence of the propagation velocity of a plasma channel on the sort o f gas is determined; from this dependence, a preliminary conclusion can be drawn about both the mechanism for the development of the discharge and the ion composition of the discharge plasma. The measurements of the electron temperature in the discharge show that the rate at which active particles a re produced is high enough to explain the acceleration of a chemical reacti on by chain processes with the participation of these particles. (C) 2000 M AIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".