Stabilization of ionization instability in a variable electric field

The development of ionization instability in molecular gases in a continuous discharge in rapidly varying electric fields is analyzed. It is shown that discharge in a variable field is more stable than in a constant field, the degree of stabilization depending critically on the nature of the time-dependence of the electric field. Conditions are found under which a considerable stabilization of the instability and increase in the discharge power can be expected.