AbstractVoltage-current (V-I) characteristics of nitrogen glow discharges at 10 torr gas pressure were obtained in a wide discharge current range from 10 mA to 250 A using parallel-plane electrodes. A low inductance capacitor of 1.89 μF and a discharge apparatus with co-axial configuration were used to produce a nitrogen glow discharge with high current. The time-dependent glow voltage was obtained accurately by solving the circuit equation using the measured values of the current and breakdown voltage. Damping resistor was employed to control the glow discharge current and was altered from 0.6 to 225 Ω in order to obtain the V-I characteristics in a wide current range. The glow discharge voltage was almost constant until the whole surface of the cathode was covered with glow, i.e., until the discharge current became 3.0 A under our experimental condition. The voltage, however, increased with the current when the glow covered over the cathode. Electron density and temperature in a positive column of the glow discharge at 250 A discharge current were obtained to 7.4×10
