Retrograde Motion in Gas Discharge Plasmas

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Abstract
It has been discovered that the glow region of the ball-of-fire mode in a hot-cathode discharge exhibits retrograd motion like the cathode spot of a mercury pool arc. The dependence of the velocity of motion on magnetic field, gas pressure, and current has been studied. Measurements have been made on tubes simulating the geometry and flow conditions of the ball-of-fire mode of discharge. A mechanism for retrograde motion is proposed. An expression for the velocity of motion is derived based on the stability criterion for a space charge sheath connecting two plasmas. Conclusions from a possible analogy with the mercury pool arc are made.

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