High-voltage pulsed discharge in an electron source with a plasma cathode

The nature of and mechanism for producing a high-voltage discharge in an electron source with a plasma cathode are investigated. The possibility of generating pulsed electron currents with an amplitude of 10³–10⁴ A and a length of 10^–6 sec is considered.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 117–121, October, 1973.The authors thank B. M. Koval'chuk for help in developing the experimental arrangement and G. A. Mesyates for constant attention to the work and discussion of the results.