Arc-Glow Transition of a Hydrogen Positive Column at 1.0 Atm

Abstract

For 0.1–10 A discharges, transition phenomena as a property of positive column are studied through examination of the results of the present experiment, of preceding experiments, and of the theories by the authors. They are caused by the dissociation peak of thermal conductivity of hydrogen gas. If a series resistance of a power supply is fairly small, state of plasma jumps from an arc to a glow with decrease of a discharge current. When the series resistance becomes considerably larger, an oscillation appears in a state transition region. The phenomena do not depend on materials and surface conditions of cathode. The dependence of the transitions on a tube radius and on a resistance of a power supply agree qualitatively with the theories.