Self-pulsing in a low-current hollow cathode discharge: From Townsend to glow discharge

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2016 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4941281· OSTI ID:22493890

Qin, Yu ^[1]; Xie, Kan ^[2]; Zhang, Yu; Ouyang, Jiting ^[1]

---

1. School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081 (China)
2. School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081 (China)

We investigate the self-pulsing phenomenon of a low current cavity discharge in a cylindrical hollow cathode in pure argon. The waveforms of pulsed current and voltage are measured, and the time-averaged and time-resolved images of hollow cathode discharge are recorded by using high-speed intensified charge coupled device camera. The results show that the self-pulsing is a mode transition between low-current stage of Townsend discharge and high-current stage of glow discharge. During the self-pulsing, the current rising time relates to the dissipation of space charges, and the decay time relates to the reconstruction of the virtual anode by the accumulation of positive ions. Whether or not space charges can form and keep the virtual anode is responsible for the discharge mode and hence plays an important role in the self-pulsing phenomenon in low current hollow cathode discharge.

• OSTI ID: 22493890
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 23; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ANODES
ARGON
CAMERAS
CATIONS
CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
GLOW DISCHARGES
HOLLOW CATHODES
IMAGES
PULSES
SPACE CHARGE
TIME RESOLUTION
TOWNSEND DISCHARGE
WAVE FORMS