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.