Discharges in N-2-Ar mixtures are experimentally investigated by means of optical emission and absorption spectroscopy, probe diagnostic techniques, and radiophysic methods. The experimental results provide insight into the mechanisms of wave-to-plasma power transfer, N-2 dissociation, creation of N-2(+) ions, and excitation of metastable states [N-2(A(3)Sigma(u)(+)),Ar(P-3(2))]. These results are analyzed in the framework of the theoretical predictions of a model developed in a companion article. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.