The experimental investigation of a glow discharge in a toroidal tube

A glow discharge in a toroidal tube with axial discharge current is investigated. The investigation was carried out for a discharge as a whole, not for electrodal zones and the positive column separately. The volt-ampere characteristics for different pressures and Paschen's curves for different gases were measured. The curves obtained are compared with analogous ones for a cylindrical tube. The conditions for the existence of a glow discharge in a toroidal tube and the processes passing there are discussed on the basis of the measured curves. The experiments were carried out in air, helium, argon and neon.