Control of current and voltage oscillations in a short dc discharge making use of external auxiliary electrode.

A dc discharge with a hot cathode is subject to current and voltage plasma oscillations, which have deleterious effects on its operation. The oscillations can be inhibited by installing an auxiliary electrode, placed outside of anode. By collecting a modest current through a small opening in anode, we show that the discharge becomes stable, in a certain pressure range. This method of avoiding current oscillations can be used, for example, for high current stabilizers.