ELECTRON EMISSION AND SELF-SUSTAINING IN THE SYSTEM OF GAS DISCHARGE - AQUEOUS CATHODE
The features of an electric gas discharge with aqueous electrolyte solution as cathode are considered. A model is proposed and proved for electron emission and self-sustaining of electrolyte cathode glow discharge. According to the model proposed, the process of electron emission includes two stages. The first, internal, stage of the electron emission consists in the generation of quasi-free electrons within the near-discharge volume of aqueous solution as the result of ionization of the solution components by accelerated particles as well as subsequent fast hydration of electrons. The second, external, stage of the electron emission occurs mainly due to an evaporation of thin neardischarge liquid layer containing hydrated electrons formed during the first stage, into the gasdischarge region. The system of electrolyte cathode glow discharge is shown to be stabilized by an inverse feedback between the electron generation/capture liquid processes and the ionizing/acceleration processes in the gas phase.