Absolute negative conductivity in a weakly ionized low-temperature plasmas

The current status of research on the absolute negative conductivity phenomenon in weakly ionized low-temperature plasmas is reviewed. Present-day theories as well as methods and results of experimental studies are outlined. Many of theoretical predictions are found to be illustrated well by respective experimental data. Conditions necessary for the negative conductivity to appear are discussed. The parameters set (pressure and composition of a gas mixture, creation method of plasmas, plasma concentration) is established whereby the most high magnitude of negative conductivity to be possible