On the estimate of the cathode layer parameters of a high-voltage glow discharge

A method is proposed for estimating the cathode layer parameters of a high-voltage stationary discharge taking into account nonlocal ionization and changes in the gas density upon heating by the discharge current. The criteria of the method applicability are obtained in the context of the kinetic approach to the description of the discharge. The results are compared with the experimental data under a helium pressure of 500 Pa and cathode potentials of 1.5–5.5 kV. The discrepancy between the calculated and experimental data on the discharge current is within the error of calculations.