EFFECT OF RECTIFICATION IN GASEOUS DISCHARGES WITH CROSSED ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS

The effect of a transverse magnetic field on the initiating conditions for a gaseous discharge was examined and it was found that there exists a polarity effect at pressures of the order of 1 to 10/sup -5/ Torr. It is shown here that this effect, applied to the rectification of low-frequency currents, can be made more efficient if the magnetic field is localized in the vicinity of one of the electrodes of the rctifier. (J.S.R.)