CURRENT PASSAGE MECHANISM OF THE AUXILIARY GLOW DISCHARGE IN THE TRIGGER UNIT OF A COLD-CATHODE THYRATRON

Abstract

The report deals with the investigation of the low-current glow discharge with a hollow cathode and hollow anode in the trigger unit of a cold-cathode thyratron. Two discharge regimes were observed: the so-called hindered glow discharge and the conventional glow discharge. A model of the current sustainment in a hollow-cathode discharge is proposed. Instead of the conventional secondary emission coefficient, the model uses a generalized emission coefficient that takes into account not only ion bombardment of the cathode, but also the emission current from an external source. The results of calculations agree well with the experimental data.