STUDIES OF MECHANISMS IN GLOW-DISCHARGE OSCILLATIONS

Glow discharge oscillation is an old phenomenon but our mechanistic un derstanding of the processes involved continues to grow. A mechanism s tudy is important especially now since a new type of sensitive GC dete ctor is being developed based on this phenomenon. A SPAN model of glow discharge oscillation is proposed: source formation; propagation; acc umulation; and neutralization of space charges. Electrode coupling cou ples the neutralization and source formation processes thus completing the feedback loop necessary for some of the observed oscillations to occur. Emission, space potential and current monitoring, and forced os cillations were used to monitor and identify the mechanisms.