The Role of High-Velocity Electrons in a Hollow-Cathode Discharge

In this paper, the features of a low-pressure discharge in a hollow cathode are considered. It has been shown that a free mode can be realized with a double electric layer at the cathode and high density of the current of high-velocity electrons in the discharge bulk, considerably exceeding the current density at the cathode. In this case, the rate of ionization by high-velocity electrons considerably exceeds the rate of ionization by plasma electrons.