Controlling the analytical performance of the atmospheric pressure glow discharge by admixing of air with argon and hydrogen

The analytical performance of the atmospheric glow discharge can be controlled by addition of traces of foreign gas. Mixing the air with hydrogen causes the enhancement of the electric current and the electron density while it causes the decaying (quenching) in the emitted spectra of the nitrogen second positive system. On the other hand, adding the argon traces to air discharge causes the increase of the electric current, electrons densities and enhances the intensity of the emission spectra of the second positive systems. The elementary processes that are responsible of these behaviors have been reported. The electron vibrational temperature for the two cases have been determined. In the case of the admixing with argon the vibrational temperature increases by about 60% while in the case of admixing with hydrogen it increases by 66%.