Hollow cathode discharges: Volt-ampere characteristics and space-time resolved structure of the discharge

Abstract

We report measurements of electrical properties and spatial emission profiles of hollow cathode discharge, both for steady state and transient phases during formation of the discharge. A commercial hollow cathode tube filled with neon at 3.5 Torr has been studied. Our aim was to relate discharge anatomy to the voltage-current characteristics in a wide range of the operating conditions. It was particularly interesting to track down in time formation of the discharge structure, which is typical for "hollow cathode effect". © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.