Characteristics of a reflex discharge with a box-shaped cathode cavity and emission properties of the discharge plasma

A new geometrical relationship between the shape and dimensions of the cathode cavity of a reflex discharge with a cold hollow cathode is determined. The discharge characteristics and the emission properties of the discharge plasma are investigated experimentally. The conditions are determined for generating a cathode plasma that is highly inhomogeneous in the radial direction and the possibility of creating such a plasma is demonstrated. The existence of a stationary double electric layer with a potential drop of 14-16 V in the aperture of the cathode cavity is revealed. Specific features of the longitudinal extraction of plasma ions through the wall layer of the reflex and hollow cathodes are considered.