From: "L.C. Scholz" <lcscholz@email.msn.com>
Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
References: <75384q$db1$1@jupiter.cs.uml.edu>
Subject: Re: "multipacting" = flickering??


I am not certain about the use you refer to for multipacting. However, in
ac breakdown, generally at high frequencies, there is a phenomenon where the
electrons impact surfaces on both sides of a cavity or other system of
electrodes (as the field reverses) and breakdown occurs because of the
buildup of electrons over several cycles. Generally this is important when
the pressure and distances are such that breakdown does not occur in a
single cycle and there is a secondary emission coefficient greater than one.
This is a rough idea and you should check other sources.

Robert Groover wrote in message <75384q$db1$1@jupiter.cs.uml.edu>...
>
>Just a quick question: when a glow discharge is referred to as operating
>in a "multipacting" mode (as pressure is reduced, just before extinction),
>does this mean that the discharge is starting to cycle off and on?
>
>Thanks for your help!
>
>Robert Groover groover@netcom.com (PGP key on request)
>Member ECS, AVS, ACM, OSA, Sen.Mem.IEEE, Reg'd Patent Atty
> "All men by nature desire knowledge."
>
>