Plasma generation with increased ionization degree in pulsed high-current low-pressure hollow cathode glow discharge

The paper presents the results of research of the processes of generation of pulsed beam-plasma formations in a high-current non-self-sustained glow discharge with a hollow cathode at a low (0.025-0.25 Pa) pressures. In the hollow cathode volume of 0.34 m³ the glow discharge pulse currents up to 800 A at a current of injected electrons of up to 150 A, discharge combustion voltages up to 400 V and pulse duration of 1 ms were obtained. A plasma with a density of about 10¹² cm^-3 was formed with an ionization degree of up to 16%. It has been shown that the electron free path length λ_K between Coulomb interactions in the pressure range (0.025-0.05 Pa) is about 3.5 times less than the electron free path length λ_i when interacting with neutrals at a high (10-15%) degree of plasma ionization. The measured electron saturation current density on the single electric probe was 3.7 A/cm² (0.025 Pa), 5 A/cm² (0.05 Pa) and 6.7 A/cm² (0.25 Pa). Relatively uniform beam-plasma formations generated in the glow discharge are promising for the formation of pulsed intensive electron beams of large cross section.

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