Spatial and temporal characteristics of electron and ion beams generated by high-voltage nanosecond discharges in dense molecular gases

Observations of ordered-structure electron beams generated by high-voltage nanosecond discharges in relatively dense (0.04–1 torr) molecular gases at high overvoltages are reported. The beams of accelerated ions generated by high-voltage nanosecond discharges are found to exhibit the same ordered structure. The observed structure of ion beams casts doubt on the mechanisms for the formation of a striped electron-beam structure that assume a regular ecton distribution. Parameters characterizing the temporal behavior of the accelerated electron and ion beams are measured.