Mechanism and rate of loss of CO in glow discharges in CO, CO-He and CO-N2-He

Abstract
The loss (dissociation) of CO in the positive column of a glow discharge has been measured in pure CO and in CO-He and CO-N2-He mixtures similar to those used in efficient 5 mu m CO lasers. The loss coefficient is about an order of magnitude greater in the mixtures including helium than in the pure CO, but it is not necessary to postulate more than one dissociation mechanism. Positive ion, negative ion, C3O2 polymerization and direct electron impact dissociation have been proposed as the mechanism of the CO loss: only the direct electron impact dissociation channel is compatible with the results; whether an excited state is involved has not been determined.