Hysteresis of the current-voltage characteristic of a continuous electron-beam-controlled discharge in a nitrogen flow

A hysteresis in the current-voltage characteristic of continuous electric discharge controlled by an electron beam in a nitrogen flow has been experimentally observed. It is suggested that the transition from a self-sustained glow discharge regime (typical of ionization chamber) to the electron-beam-controlled discharge is accompanied by the transition from the laminar to turbulent boundary layer at the cathode surface.