Identification of H2(ν″) vibrational excitation processes in a hydrogen discharge

The enhancement of the H2(ν″) vibrational distribution observed in the medium-density hydrogen discharge of Eenshuistra and co-workers is investigated theoretically as a function of different excitation processes. The observed fivefold enhancement of the ν″=5 population with increasing discharge current is reproduced in the model. Principal excitations generating this enhancement are H3+surface recombination and fast-electron excitation. Atom-surface recombination may be a principal contributor near the ν″=1 portion of the spectrum.