Mechanism of Negative Space Charge in Gas Subjected to Corona Discharge

The currents produced by low frequency electrodeless discharge of ozoniser filled with argon at P = 10 mm mercury have been measured using a galvanometer actuated by the crystalrectifier and a resistor of 500 ohm. The measurements have also been made simultaneously with the help of electronic scaler. The data are presented graphically by the plots of current against potential. A change in slope of the curves for a pulse height of 5 V has been attempted on the basis of space-charge-limited current and mathematically formulated equation, viz ., I =A'.V. t.Vo ; where A' is a constant of proportionality and is equal to 2K/C.P.1t.Rln ) og (Ro.'! Ri ) , which can be determined from the known values of reduced mobility of the ions of the space charge (K); the pressure (P) ; the radii of outer (Row) and inner(R;w) cylinders and the over voltages, (t.V) A side by side measurement of the light effect, ie, change ± M in the discharge current due °toexternal irradiation, revealed to definite dependence of sign and magnitude of the t.lg on the potential in the system studied. Thus, on irradiation of the discharge by light from a 15 W tungsten filament clear glass bulb, at low potentials [below the first threshold potential of argon, (VJJ, there was practically no variation in the current, while at higher potentials, at and above V ~, the current was completely enhanced. Further, a few ramifications related to defence, of sl~ch instantaneous and reversible photo-variation of discharge current due to radiation, are also described