Investigation of a low-current $H$-pinched discharge

Optical, electrical, and erosion studies are made of a low-current $H$-pinched discharge. The development of a discharge and its behavior during a pulse were monitored on a streak camera with a time magnifier. It is shown that under low-current operation the energy spent on vaporization of a given amount of materials is $3$–$4$ times smaller than under forced operation.