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Experimental Measurements on the Current Balance at the Cathode of a Cylindrical Hollow Cathode Glow Discharge
Author(s) -
Helm H.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
beiträge aus der plasmaphysik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1521-3986
pISSN - 0005-8025
DOI - 10.1002/ctpp.19790190405
Subject(s) - cathode , atomic physics , ion , electron , glow discharge , plasma , argon , metastability , secondary emission , secondary electrons , chemistry , current (fluid) , materials science , physics , nuclear physics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
The contribution of positive ions, photons and metastable particles to the secondary emission of electrons from the cathode of an argon glow discharge with cylindrical cathode is measured by sampling the plasma species through a small orifice in the cathode wall and analyzing them in a high vacuum region. Additional experiments are made with a second apparatus which enables the sampling fo plasma species from the negative glow and the dark space. The paper describes the experimental techniques used in both cases and presents estimates on the validity of the results obtained. The positive ions are found to be the dominant contribution to the discharge current at the cathode. The secondary emission of electrons is — in decreasing order of importance — due to impact fo singly charged ions, doubly charged ions and metastable atoms.