EXTENDED NEGATIVE GLOW PLASMA IN A SHORT GLOW-DISCHARGE

A nonstandard short glow discharge with a large-volume negative glow p lasma is studied. This plasma is created using the properties of an in hibited discharge and the hollow cathode effect at pressures of 10(-2) -10 torr in inert and molecular gases with burning voltages of 180-800 V and currents of 10(-3)-1.0 A. Under these conditions the extent of the negative glow plasma is comparable to that of the positive column plasma and, according to probe measurements, it is spatially uniform a nd at a constant potential. Spectroscopic studies reveal that its emis sion is intense, an order of magnitude higher than that of the positiv e column plasma. An analysis of the energy characteristics indicates t hat the discharge energy is efficiently converted to radiant energy. T his type of discharge differs greatly from a classical glow discharge in the generation, distribution, and loss of charged particles.