Effect of energetic electrons on near-wall sheath voltage in the cathode region of a cold cathode direct current discharge

It is experimentally demonstrated that energetic electrons originating from the cathode or produced in volumetric processes in the cathode region of a cold cathode direct current discharge can create a large potential drop in the near-wall sheath. This voltage drop may be much greater than kTe/e (where k is the Boltzmann constant, Te is the electron temperature, and e is the electron charge). Due to the large near-wall sheath voltage, slow and moderately energetic electrons cannot reach the wall and move toward the anode. Application of additional potentials to the wall can change the amount of energetic electrons reaching the wall. This effect can be used for regulation of the near-cathode plasma and near-wall sheath properties and thus may be useful in technical applications.