No abstract

No abstract

The power output of electric lasers is limited due to gas heating and instabilities of the glow discharge. A theory is presented which describes the instability phenomena occurring in the positive column of glow discharges. The theory predicts the neutral stability boundaries of the transition from a stable diffuse glow to a constricted discharge as well as the transition to a striated column (waves of ionization). A comparison between theory and experimental results for neon is presented.

No abstract

No abstract