Rotating waves in a planar dc-driven gas-discharge system with semi-insulating GaAs cathode

Abstract

A primary destabilization of homogeneous discharge in form of rotating waves is observed in a planar dc-driven gas-discharge system with a semi-insulating GaAs cathode that exhibits nonlinear transport properties. The rotating waves are stable in the case of constant control parameters and are characterized by a monotonic decrease of rotation frequency with increasing supply voltage. It is shown that the nonlinearity of the semiconductor is essential for the generation of the pattern, whereas the gas serves to visualize it. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.