Formation of Microhollow Cathode Sustained Discharge With Split Third Electrodes

Generation of a larger volume glow discharge is achieved by a microhollow cathode sustained dc discharge with split third electrodes. Expansion of the sustained discharge volume in a split-electrode configuration is about three times larger than that in a single-planar-third-electrode case when the third electrodes are positively biased. In the reversed polarity, the sustained discharge volume decreases for both single- and split-electrode cases, but the cathode contact area is much reduced in the single-third-electrode case.