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We report on the results of successful implementation of full grid control in a cesium discharge with a cathode spot. The discharge is quenched by a negative grid pulse for a discharge current density up to 75 A/cm in the grid plane for voltage switching up to 100 V in the pressure range 0.5-1.5 Pa for a voltage drop of 5-6 V in the discharge. It is shown that quenching is the break-off type. The discovered effect of 'evacuation' of the heavy component (ions) from the grid-anode gap to the cathode region leads to an unusually long (hundreds of microseconds) time of stabilization of the steady state in the discharge under the experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of theoretical and experimental studies of the optical spectrum of a pulse-periodic high-pressure cesium discharge are presented. The results of calculations are in good agreement with experimental data. The possibility of creating an efficient light source based on recombination emission from the discharge plasma is demonstrated. The formation mechanisms of the continuous spectrum of discharge radiation are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first results of an investigation of the complete current switching (initiation and quenching) using a fine-mesh grid in discharge with a cathode spot on liquid cesium are reported. Experimental data show the possibility of using this method of control at current densities within 5–25 A/cm2 in the grid plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of investigation of the ignition voltage for a low-voltage cesium arc and direct voltage drops in the discharge in cesium triodes with fine-mesh (∼0.2 mm) and coarse-mesh (∼2 mm) control grids are presented. It is shown that in a cesium vapor pressure range of 0.05–0.1 Torr and for discharge currents of 5–10 A/cm2, direct voltage drops can be reduced to 0.7–0.5 V even for a fine-mesh grid. For a coarse-mesh grid whose holdoff voltage is sufficient for rectifying low voltages (∼15–20 V), direct voltage drops are almost the same as for a diode even for currents of 1 A/cm2 and lower. The critical factor of holdoff voltage loss is the grid emission level (∼1 mA/cm2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some peculiarities in the development of high-current pulse-periodic discharge in cesium vapor have been studied. It is established that, at a cesium vapor pressure of P > ∼100 Torr, a difference between the electron temperature and that of the heavy plasma component almost does not influence the development of discharge. At P ∼ 250 Torr, the character of discharge exhibits significant changes, which require further detailed investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]