Two-stage plasma gun based on a gas discharge with a self-heating hollow emitter

The paper presents the results of tests of a new compact two-stage bulk gas plasma gun. The plasma gun is based on a nonself-sustained gas discharge with an electron emitter based on a discharge with a self-heating hollow cathode. The operating characteristics of the plasma gun are investigated. The discharge system makes it possible to produce uniform and stable gas plasma in the dc mode with a plasma density up to 3x109 cm-3 at an operating gas pressure in the vacuum chamber of less than 2x10-2 Pa. The device features high power efficiency, design simplicity, and compactness.