On basis of new results concerning the dependence of the discharge current on the intercathode spacing and the cathode fall potential, the main characteristics of the hollow cathode effect (H.C.E) in a plane-parallel geometry are defined.In order to explain the particularities of the H.C.E., a mechanism is p r o p e d that regards the discharge current amplifications and the enhancement of the negative glow plasma as a consequence of the plasma beam instabilities.
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