DEIONIZATION OF A LOW-DENSITY PLASMA IN A GAS-DISCHARGE GAP.

Deionization is studied for the case in which there are no collisions of charged particles with each other or with gas atoms, and the electrons and positive ions recombine at the electrodes. The distribution of charged particles during the deionization process is found. The ion currents to absorbing electrodes are found for various configurations of the gap in the absence of an external electric field. The maximum charged-particle density in the central regions, which determines the rate at which the dielectric strength of the vacuum gap is restored, is calculated.