Constriction of discharges in electronegative molecular gases

A mechanism for constriction of a discharge is examined in which electrons are primarily produced in a narrow region near the axis of the discharge tube and are neutralized as the result of the formation of negative ions which then undergo ion-ion recombination. The conditions for constriction of the discharge are established on the basis of an approximate system of balance equations for the electron density and translational and vibrational temperatures of the gas.