Hydrogen Dissociation in a Microwave Discharge

Abstract

The dissociation of molecular hydrogen has been studied in a microwave discharge operating at 2450 MHz over the pressure range 133-465 N/m2. Highest conversions to atomic hydrogen are obtained at the lowest pressure in a discharge tube coated with ortho-phosphoric acid. A theoretical model was used to relate experimental variables to observed conversion values. The application of measured electron energies and densities in the model resulted in better agreement with experimental conversions than was the case when energies and densities, calculated from absorbed powers, were employed. There is no proof however from the present study that the basic underlying model is itself invalid.