Influence of cathode material on generation of energetic hydrogen atoms in a glow discharge

In this paper influence of cathode material on formation of fast hydrogen atoms in an abnormal glow discharge is investigated using Balmer alpha emission spectroscopy. Energetic H atoms are generated in charge exchange reactions of hydrogen ions that are accelerated in the electric field, and also formed in the backscattering process at the cathode surface. Copper and graphite cathodes were used. Investigation was performed in two orthogonal directions of observation in pure hydrogen and argon-hydrogen mixture. The shapes of the profiles are examined together with the space intensity distribution of Balmer alpha line. Reduced atom reflection from graphite was manifested in the spectroscopic result, in accordance to the field acceleration model. The effect was evident only at high ion energies. This is explained by energy dependence of reflection coefficient for H atoms.