HIGH-CURRENT, HOLLOW-CATHODE GLOW DISCHARGE.

A study has been made of the voltage drop in hydrogen, deuterium, and oxygen for pressures of 0. 2 to 1 Torr at currents up to 2000 A in pulses lasting 3 and 18 mu sec with repetition rates of 50 Hz. The cathode is stainless steel or aluminum and the size of the cathode cavity is varied from 0. 5 to 40 mm. The measurements are made after warmup and processing with the apparatus sealed off. The dynamic resistance of the discharge decreases as the current increases and, in certain circumstances, can take on negative values. The dependence of the voltage drop on the size of the electrode cavity is characterized by a minimum at 2 to 5 mm.