Parallel operation of microhollow cathode discharges

Parallel operation of de microhollow cathode discharges in argon at pressur es up to several hundred torr was obtained without individual ballast at lo w currents, where the slope of the current-voltage characteristic is positi ve. By using semi-insulating silicon as anode material, we were able to ext end the range of stable operation over the entire current range, including that with negative differential resistance. This opens the possibility to u tilize microhollow cathode discharge arrays in flat panel lamps.