Acoustic Interaction with the Positive Column of a Neon Glow Discharge

Abstract

Compressive acoustic pulses were produced by an impulsive abnormal-glow discharge and the interaction of these pulses with the positive column of a dc neon glow discharge was studied. The acoustic pulses are analyzed and are found to be infinitesimal amplitude perturbations. The mechanism of the acoustic interaction is described in terms of existent theories of the positive column. It is found that the presence of the acoustic pulse in the positive column creates small spatially-separated regions of increased electron temperature and electron density, which move through the plasma in company with the acoustic pulse. It is shown that amplification of the wave of stratification produced in the interaction may, in many cases, depend upon this spatial separation phenomenon. An attempt was made to observe amplification of the acoustic pulses caused by their propagation through the plasma.