Dynamics of Corona Discharge between Cylindrical Electrodes

Abstract

The qualitative explanation by Loeb of the constancy of the amplification factor with increasing corona currents with coaxial cylindrical electrodes used, as in conventional Geiger counters, is placed on a quantitative basis. As anticipated, it is shown that it is the screening action of the space charge which is responsible for the constancy and the stability of the average discharge current. The fluctuations superposed on the constant current, previously reported by us, are explained as a response of the system having a definite resonance frequency to the statistical fluctuations of the photoelectric current. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by experimental data.