Low-voltage discharge in cesium-hydrogen mixture as a source of negative hydrogen ions

It is shown theoretically that a low-voltage Cs-H/sub 2/ discharge can be utilized as a volume-plasma negative hydrogen ion source with very high H/sup -/ concentration (or approximately=1 torr) and optimum value of thermal electron temperature (>or approximately=1 eV) in plasma. It causes rapid pumping of vibrationally excited H/sub 2/ levels and high rate of dissociative attachment. Electron vibration kinetics in the discharge is considered, and H/sup -/ concentration is calculated. The optimum discharge parameters for H/sup -/ generation are determined. Experimental investigation of the discharge has been performed. It is shown that theoretical and experimental plasma parameters are very close to one another.<>