Investigation of the glow phase in spark discharges

Abstract

The axial voltage distribution of spark discharges in hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide is studied during the transient glow phase over a wide range of pressures. The results indicate that a glow mode develops in discharges which is initiated by the Townsend mechanism and is independent of external impedance. It is characterized by fixed values of cathode fall voltage and the ratio electric field to pressure in the positive column.