Discharge performance of LaB6 cathode in helium and nitrogen of low pressure

Gas discharge performance of LaB6 in helium and nitrogen is reported. The results show that as the voltage rises, the discharge mechanism changes from glow discharge into arc discharge, the helium discharge tube can work long time and steadily under impulses. The peak value of discharge current is more than 120 A when the pulse voltage is 2.2 kV, the pulse width is 10 ms, frequency is 13.3 Hz. In the discharging process, the ions can clean and activate the surfaces of the cathodes, which can reduce the work function of the cathodes, improve the discharge tubes’ emission capability and stability. As electrode, LaB6 has the advantages of long lifetime, short breakdown time delay, great current, etc., so it is suitable to be applied in repetitive pulsed gas discharge components with large cu