Ectons and their Role in Electrical Discharges in Vacuum and Gases

Abstract
The present paper deals with the short-term bursts - ectons of electrons appearing due to micro-explosions occuring at the cathode surface owing to the high specific energy and the strong overheating of the metal. Ectons play a fundamental role in vacuum arcs and sparks, in low-pressure discharges, in compressed and high-strength gases, etc. i.e., in cases where a high electric field exists at the cathode surface and a high density field emission current is emitted by the cathode or there exists a possibility to produce a high energy density ion a cathode microvolume.