Engineering Commons^™

Direct Current High-Pressure Glow Discharges, Robert H. Stark, Karl H. Schoenbach

Bioelectrics Publications

Stabilization and control of a high-pressure glow discharge by means of a microhollow cathode discharge has been demonstrated. The microhollow cathode discharge, which is sustained between two closely spaced electrodes with openings of approximately 100 μm diam, serves as plasma cathode for the high-pressure glow. Small variations in the microhollow cathode discharge voltage generate large variations in the microhollow cathode discharge current and consequently in the glow discharge current. In this mode of operation the electrical characteristic of this system of coupled discharges resembles that of a vacuum triode. Using the microhollow cathode discharge as plasma cathode it was possible …