The temporal development of hollow cathode discharges

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.55942· OSTI ID:6601467

Ngo, M T ^[1]; Schoenbach, K H; Gerdin, G A ^[2]; Lee, J H ^[3]

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1. Advanced Plasma Physics Group, Mission Research Corp., Washington, DC (US)
2. Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (USA). Dept. of Electrical Engineering
3. NASA-Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (US)

This paper reports the temporal development of hollow cathode discharges studied by means of electrical and optical diagnostic techniques. The results indicate that the discharge develops in two stages. The initial breakdown occurs along the longest straight path of the system; i.e., from the anode to the bottom of the cathode hole. This predischarge is confined to a narrow filament along the axis and carries a current of up to hundreds of mA. The resulting distortion of the electric field in the cathode hole is assumed to cause a radial breakdown from the filamentary plasma on the axis to the edge of the cathode hole. After this second breakdown, an increase in current by more than three orders of magnitude is observed. Measurements with axial magnetic fields support the two-stage model.

• OSTI ID: 6601467
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA) Vol. 18:3; ISSN 0093-3813; ISSN ITPSB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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