Influence of the hollow cathode dimensions on the electron beam current in a pseudospark discharge

Author

Gastel, Michael ; Hillmann, Heike ; Muller, Ferdinand ; Westheide, Jochen

Author_Institution

Zentralabteilung fur Chemische Anal., Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH, Germany

Volume

23

Issue

3

fYear

1995

fDate

6/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

248

Lastpage

253

Abstract

Investigations on the electron beam current of a free running pseudospark discharge are presented. A single gap system with hollow cathodes of different dimensions is used. The filling gases are argon and helium. The electron beam signal consists of a first pulse with currents of several hundreds of mA and a main pulse with currents up to 20 A. A variation of length and diameter of the hollow cathode significantly influences the pressure range in which a free running pseudospark discharge exists and the peak current of both electron beam pulses. Plasma formation and electron beam generation are studied by high speed photography. The experimental results give some information on the discharge mechanisms that is integrated in a qualitative model of the pseudospark discharge

Keywords

electron beams; plasma-beam interactions; spark gaps; sparks; Ar; He; electron beam current; electron beam generation; electron beam signal; free running pseudospark discharge; high speed photography; hollow cathode dimensions; plasma formation; qualitative model; single gap system; Argon; Cathodes; Current measurement; Electrodes; Electron beams; Filling; Photography; Spatial resolution; Steel; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.402309

Filename

402309