Conditions of self-sustained volume discharge formation and their influence on its glow stability

Influence of the gas mixture pressure, geometrical dimensions of active volume and the density of initial electrons on stability of a self-sustained volume discharge are discussed. These parameters affect on the stage of the discharge formation, which results in the appearance of a cathode layer. The structure of the latter (the distribution of cathode spots and channels over the cathode surface) depends strongly on the self-sustained discharge. Experimental observations are in a good agreement with the data obtained from the analysis of the cathode channels and spots distribution over the cathode surface.