Gas-discharge gap passage by injected high-energy electrons driven by a high-voltage pulse

The motion of high-energy electrons in a gas-discharge gap filled by nitrogen at atmospheric pressure has been simulated. Electrons were driven by a subnanosecond high-voltage pulse with an amplitude of 150 kV. It is established that the injected electrons can reach the anode only for a very high initial energy, which cannot be provided by means of explosive emission. Therefore, under usual experimental conditions, electron emission from the cathode cannot account for the main fraction of electrons generated in a gas-filled diode at atmospheric pressure.