Microwave and Metre Wave Radiation from the Positive Column of a Gas Discharge

Abstract

Experiments are described in which the intensity of radio-frequency "noise" radiation from the positive column of low pressure discharges in neon was measured at 3000 Mc/s and at 200 Mc/s. Measurements were made by inserting the positive column in a resonant cavity and comparing the cavity output with that from a noise generator of known intensity; corrections were made for contributions to the noise radiation from dissipative elements in the cavity at room temperature. The mean energy of the electrons in the discharge was calculated from measured values of the electric field.