Transition to the obstructed discharge and a sharp change in the voltage-current characteristic as a result of gas heating in a short (positive-column-free) high-pressure glow discharge

The formation of a high-pressure glow discharge is studied under conditions when the discharge evolves from the normal glow to the abnormal glow. It is shown that the transition to the voltage-current characteristic of the obstructed discharge may take place as a result of heating the gas and a decrease in its density. The obstructed discharge follows the left-hand branch of the Paschen curve and features a sharp voltage rise and current density limitation.