Moving striations and anode effects in an argon glow discharge
Authors
Habermehl, Robert N.
Hughes, Douglas A.
Subjects
Advisors
Cooper, A.W.
Date of Issue
1961
Date
1961
Publisher
Monterey, California ; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
Moving striations and anode oscillations were studied over a wide range of gas pressures and discharge currents in an argon glow discharge. Striation spacing, frequency and velocity were
measured as a function of discharge current from low currents to the current for extinction of
moving striations, for pressures from 1 to 16 mm Hg. Striation frequency was also measured as a function of pressure for various radii discharge tubes. The anode spot light oscillations were eliminated by use of an auxiliary anode discharge, which brought the positive column in contact with the anode and eliminated the oscillating anode fall in potential. This change in the anode region produced no significant change in the striation parameters, but greatly reduced and altered the frequency of the potential oscillations across the discharge tube. The potential oscillations now followed the wave form and frequency of the striation oscillations instead of the frequency of the anode spot oscillations.
By use of a discharge tube, constructed with sections of different radius, moving striations in the positive column were isolated from both cathode and anode by sections of homogenous positive column in which no voltage oscillations were detectable by floating probes. This leads to the conclusion that striations are due to an inherent instability of the positive column, and not to the effects developed by the anode or cathode.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Physics
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.