Theorie der Strom-Spannungs-Charakteristik der stationären Glimmentladung

Abstract

If the current density of a glow discharge is raised to about ten times the normal current density, the discharge mechanism is changed. The number of ions produced in the cathodic dark space of such a strong-current discharge is no longer sufficient to maintain the discharge. The familiar assumption, that the deficit will be compensated by ions or ultra-violet photons from the negative glow, is opposed by measurements on obstructed discharges. The interpretation of the charge balance of the strong-current discharge is made possible by regarding the production of fast atoms by charge exchange in the dark space, taking into account the additional electron emission at the cathode and the ionisations in the gas caused by such atoms. The same mechanism allows a satisfactory quantitative interpretation of the „Nahdurchschlag“. A complete system of equations for the simultaneous description of the weak-current and the strong-current glow discharge is given.