Microdischarge in microbridge plasma display with holes in the cathode

Abstract

A new microbridge plasma display structure with holes in the cathode has been fabricated and operated at high gas pressure (400-700 Torr). With a hole diameter of 100 mu m, the slope of the I-V curve in the discharge cell of the new structure is positive at 700 Torr. It is found that the discharge in this new structure has about 100 Kohm internal resistance, and the discharges are stable when operated without current limiting resistors. The operating current in the new structure is about 50 mu A with smaller 75 mu m diameter holes in the cathode.