Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 March 2004
On the basis of experimental measurements of the electric field (which varies from 5 to 60 V/cm) and the N-atom relative density variation (one order of magnitude), mechanisms of ionization and dissociation in direct current glow discharges are discussed for pressures ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 torr and current between 1 and 50 mA. It is shown that: (i) at low pressure (E/N > 40 Td) ionization is governed by electronic impact and Penning reactions; (ii) at high pressure (E/N < 40 Td) the ionization is mainly governed by Penning reactions.