Interest in low voltageCs-H2 discharge is stimulated by the prospect of utilizing it as a source of H-ions. In this paper we discuss the results of created by means of Cs ionization, and H-generation is due to dissociative attachment of heated thermal electrons to vibrationally excited H2(X'E9+, v ) levels. Two modes of the discharge are analysed: the discharge in dense hydrogen plasma, where both electron-vibration and vibration-vibration pumpings of excited HP levels are important, and Knudsen discharge, where the high vibrational level population is due to the electron-vibration exchange alone. The dependence of H-concentration on the discharge characteristics and the optimum parameters for H-generation are discussed. A self-consistent theory of the discharge is presented. The results of the first experimental investigation of a low voltage Cs-H2 discharge are given. It is shown that there is good agreement between the experimental and theoretical plasma parameters and that the optimum parameters for H-generation may be achieved in an experimental device.

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