Space-time-dependent development of the plasma in a pulsed hollow-cathode discharge

The fast (nanosecond) breakdown of hollow-cathode discharges is studied. Streak camera investigations are presented on the space-time-dependent development of pulsed discharges, starting from low-current preionization discharges. The discharges start near the entrance to the cathode, then move further back into the cathode, and then spread over a wider range along the axis of the cathode. The depth range of the intense pulsed hollow-cathode plasma was found to be two to eight times the cathode diameter.<
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