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We report on the discharge behaviour and the mode transition observed in a magnetically constricted anode device. With an increase in pressure, the central droplet shaped glow shrunk and abruptly switched to peripheral glow mode for pressure above 5×10−2 mbar. This transition is observed when the width of the droplet shaped glow at the anode approaches the diameter of the central magnet. The mode transition is observed as a sudden jump in the discharge current, which obeys a different power law than the previous discharge mode. Further, this new mode is observed to accompany the global oscillations in the range of few kHz.

The combined effect of magnetic field (B), gas pressure (P), and the corresponding discharge voltage on the discharge properties of argon in inverted cylindrical magnetron has been investigated. In the experiment, anode is biased with continuous 10 ms sinusoidal half wave. It is observed that at a comparatively higher magnetic field (i.e., >200 gauss) and lower operating pressure (i.e.

Anode double layer and droplet shaped fireball are found in a magnetically constricted anode. The disc shaped anode is constricted using permanent magnets. The device has only one anode and vacuum chamber acts as cathode. Plasma is created through glow discharge by applying high voltage between the anode and the cathode. Large size droplet shaped glow is obtained near the anode and is shown to have a double layer structure. Discharge is operated in pressure range from 5×10−3 mbar to 5×10−2 mbar keeping discharge current between 1 and 10 mA. Typical plasma density obtained near anode is 1×1010 cm−3. The profile of plasma potential clearly shows two distinct regions with potential difference of 15.6 V at the boundary of anode glow. The potential difference is close to the ionization potential of Argon gas, which is used during the experiment. This distinct region is visible as bright anode glow and dark “bulk plasma” fill the chamber. This indicates the presence of the double layer formation. The role of ma...