Generation of uniform hydrogen anode plasma layers from hydrogenated Ti-Pd-films

We present results from test bed experiments for the production of uniform hydrogen anode plasma layers from hydrogenated Ti-Pd films. The discharge through the 2×7 cm² metal hydride films was initiated with a fast rising electrical pulse generated from a 1.2 Ω, 10 ns long Blumlein stripline charged up to 30 kV. About 3 J of electrical energy were coupled into the discharge, leading to the production of 0.5-3 10¹⁶ protons per cm 2 during the first 40 ns after breakdown. Evaluating the intensities of spectral lines we obtained an electron temperature between 2 and 4 eV and a very high ratio of protons to Ti+ ions ranging from 80-400. Besides protons Ti+ ions were the most abundant species. No ions from other light elements could be identified in the spectrum.