Cathode fall behavior in a Hg-rare gas discharge with a thermionic cathode

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:330591

Garner, R C; Li, Y M ^[1]

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1. Osram Sylvania Inc., Beverly, MA (United States)

Using a Langmuir probe, the authors have made cathode fall measurements, over a wide range of discharge parameters, for a barium oxide coated, thermionic emitting cathode in a Hg-Ar discharge. These measurements agree well with the results of a recently developed model. Cathode fall (plasma potential near the cathode), as well as electron density and temperature were derived from the second derivative of the probe i-v characteristic. The experimental configuration allowed for axial and radial mapping of the plasma parameters in the entire negative glow of the discharge. As such, the authors present an extensive parameter study of the negative glow of a Hg-Ar discharge.

• OSTI ID: 330591
• Report Number(s): CONF-970559--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ARGON
CATHODES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
MERCURY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA POTENTIAL
PLASMA SIMULATION
THERMIONIC EMISSION