The role of surface charges and negative ions for dielectric barrier discharges Niedertemperaturplasma Barrierenentladung Plasmadiagnostik Oberflächenladungen negative Ionen Sekundärelektronen Vorionisation barrier discharge surface charges negative ions secondary electrons pre ionization This thesis highlights the impact of surface charges and negative ions on the pre ionization breakdown mechanism and lateral structure of dielectric barrier discharges operated in binary mixtures of helium with nitrogen or electronegative oxygen. Sophisticated diagnostic methods e.g. non invasive optical emission spectroscopy and the electro optic Pockels effect as well as invasive laser photodetachment and laser photodesorption were applied at one plane parallel discharge configuration to investigate both relevant volume and surface processes. Moreover the experimental findings were supported by numerical fluid simulations of the discharge. For the first time the memory effect of the measured surface charge distribution was quantified and its impact on the local self stabilization of discharge filaments was pointed out. As well it turned out that a few additional seed electrons either desorbed from the charged dielectric surface or detached from negative ions in the volume significantly contribute to the pre ionization resulting in a reduced voltage necessary for discharge breakdown. Finally effective secondary electron emission coefficients of different dielectrics were estimated from the measured breakdown voltage using an analytical model.