Role of metastable atoms in glow discharge ionization processes

Journal Article · Thu Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1988 · Anal. Chem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00158a019· OSTI ID:7256355

Hess, K R; Harrison, W W

Ionization processes have been studied in a glow discharge using neon and argon as discharge gases. A tunable laser served to depopulate metastable atom populations, and the effects were followed by optical galvanic spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. In the neon discharge, depopulation of the metastables caused a general reduction in all measured ion signals, while similar studies with argon showed that many species with ionization potentials greater than the metastable energies of argon were not affected by laser depopulation. These results provide evidence for the role of Penning ionization in the glow discharge.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7256355
• Journal Information: Anal. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 60:7; ISSN ANCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ARGON
DATA
DE-EXCITATION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITED STATES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
GASES
GLOW DISCHARGES
INFORMATION
IONIZATION
LASERS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
METASTABLE STATES
NEON
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PENNING EFFECT
RARE GASES
SPECTROSCOPY