Equilibrium theory and stability of a high-current,pinched, varying-current discharge

The characteristics of a quasistationary state of a varying-current discharge are considered when the discharge current can be assumed to be high-frequency relative to hydrodynamic processes and constant relative to electrodynamic processes. It is shown that the quasistationary state of such a discharge is described by the same relations as the equilibrium state of a constant current discharge, but with physical quantities replaced by corresponding effective values. The discharge considered seems as unstable as a constant current discharge.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 2, pp. 21–28, March–April, 1973.The authors are grateful to A. A. Rukhadze for his constant interest and for discussing the results.