Mechanism of formation of a volume discharge initiated by a barrier discharge distributed on the surface of a cathode

A study was made of the mechanisms of formation of a self-sustained volume discharge in CO₂–N₂–He gas mixtures initiated by an auxiliary barrier discharge distributed on the surface of a cathode. The volume discharge was initiated when the discharge gap was filled by an electron flux formed from the barrier discharge plasma in the course of a smooth rise of the voltage across the electrodes. Measurements were made of the small-signal gain confirming the model of formation of a self-sustained volume discharge and demonstrating that a discharge of this kind could be used to amplify nanosecond light pulses.