  We report the results of a combined experimental and modeling study of the
electrical breakdown of hydrogen and deuterium in static (DC) and
radio-frequency (RF, 13.56 MHz) electric fields. For the simulations of the
breakdown events, simplified models are used and only electrons are traced by
Monte Carlo simulation. The experimental DC Paschen curve of hydrogen is used
for the determination of the effective secondary electron emission coefficient.
A very good agreement between the experimental and the calculated RF breakdown
characteristics for hydrogen is found. For deuterium, on the other hand,
presently available cross section sets do not allow a reproduction of RF
breakdown characteristics.
