Formation of accelerated electron flows in a low-current pulsed vacuum discharge

Intense short-term electron flows formed under the conditions of a low-current vacuum discharge have been detected in the circuit of a collector placed aside from the discharge axis and being at a significant (up to 1 kV) electron-decelerating potential with respect to the cathode. It has been shown that the generation of these flows is related to the formation of nonstationary double layers between the near-cathode and near-anode plasma regions and to the rapid decrease in the potential of the near-anode plasma on repeated initiation of an arc.