Measurement of energy balances of noble gas–hydrogen discharge plasmas using Calvet calorimetry

From a solution of a Schrödinger-type wave equation with a nonradiative boundary condition based on Maxwellʹs equations, Mills predicts that atomic hydrogen may undergo a catalytic reaction with certain gaseous ions such as Ar+ which ionize at integer multiples of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen, 27.2 eV. The reaction involves a nonradiative energy transfer to form a hydrogen atom that is lower in energy than unreacted atomic hydrogen with the release of energy. Upon the addition of 5% argon catalyst to a hydrogen plasma, the Lyman α emission was observed to increase by about an order of magnitude which indicated an increase in the plasma temperature; whereas, xenon control had no effect. Thus, the energy balances of argon–hydrogen glow discharge plasmas were measured using Calvet calorimetry. The steady state Calvet voltage significantly increased upon the addition of 3% hydrogen to an argon plasma, and the output signal was integrated until the signal returned to baseline. An energy balance of over −151,000 kJ/mol H2 was measured compared to the enthalpy of combustion of hydrogen of −241.8 kJ/mol H2. Whereas, under identical conditions no change in the Calvet voltage was observed when hydrogen was added to a plasma of xenon which does not provide a reaction with a net enthalpy of a multiple of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen under these conditions.