Ion composition of a plasma generated by an erosion plasma injector

An experimental study is made of the ion composition of a plasma produced by a pulsed erosion plasma injector using organic glass as the plasma-generating dielectric. It is shown that the plasma front is made up primarily by H(+) ions with a small fraction of H2(+) and some heavy metal ions. Data are also presented on the composition of the neutral gas evolving during the operation of the injector. The energy distribution of the most typical ions, H(+), C(+), and (CH)(+), is determined.