Memory effects in argon, nitrogen, and hydrogen

The contributions of the positive ions and neutral active states, remaining from previous discharge, as well as the contribution of gamma photons from /sub 27//sup 60/Co radiation source to the electrical breakdown in argon, nitrogen, and hydrogen at 6.6-mbar pressure for the various afterglow periods have been analyzed using the time delay method. The estimations of the positive ion recombination times of argon, nitrogen, and hydrogen, and the lifetime of argon metastable state, as well as the atom recombination times of nitrogen and hydrogen have been performed using this method.