Theory of nonself-sustained volume discharges in molecular and rare gases

The structure and I-V characteristics of volume discharges in molecular gases are analyzed; and characteristic times of transient processes in the cathodic layer of a nonstationary electroionization discharge are determined. The effect of hydrodynamic motion of the medium on the characteristics of the cathodic layer of a fast-flow CW electroionization laser is investigated. It is shown that the UV emission of excimer molecules produces a considerable change in the structure of the cathodic layer of the electroionization discharge in a rare gas; the intense photoeffect on the cathode leads to the appearance of a negative cathodic potential drop. Attention is also given to self-sustained photoionization and electroionization discharges in rare gases, in which the plasma density is sustained by the ionization of impurities or electron-excited atoms by radiation from excimer molecules.