Non Equilibrium Dissociation of HF in Electrical Discharge: The Role of Vibrational Excitation

Dissociation rates o f H F in electrical discharges have been calculated by solving a system of vibrational master equations, including e-V (electron-vibration), V-V (vibration-vibration) and V-T (vibration-translation) energy exchanges. The results show that large dissociation rates can be obtained by this mechanism only when the e-V pumping rates overcome the V-T deactivating rates. This occurs for electron number densities larger than 1013cm-3 . F inally the close connection o f the present results w ith the corresponding ones obtained by using as vibrational excitation source an IR powerfull laser is shown and discussed.