Mass Spectrometry of Ions in Glow Discharges: Application to H2—D2 Exchange Reactions

The negative glow of the dc glow discharge was used to study H2—D2 exchange by an ionic chain reaction. The ions present were observed directly by mass spectrometry. The chain carrier was H3+ and the chain length about 15 at 0.3 torr. The inhibition by added rare gases was examined and detailed comparisons are made with radiolysis experiments. Qualitatively the agreement is excellent. Several possible inhibition mechanisms are considered.