On the "mystery" of differential negative resistance

TL;DR

This paper explores the nonlinear behavior of gaseous conductors, revealing two distinct self-organized states of space charge configurations that lead to different types of negative differential resistance, explained through instabilities and pattern formations.

Contribution

It identifies two self-organized states in gaseous conductors and links their emergence to specific instabilities causing negative differential resistance behaviors.

Findings

Two states of space charge configurations identified.

Emergence of bistability in current-voltage characteristics.

Connection between instabilities and negative differential resistance.

Abstract

Investigating the causes of the nonlinear behavior of a gaseous conductor we identified the presence of two states of the complex space charge configuration self-assembled in front of the anode. These states correspond to two levels of self-organization from which the first one is related to spatial pattern whereas the second one to spatiotemporal pattern. Their emergence through two kinds of instabilities produced for two critical distances from thermodynamic equilibrium is emphasized in the current voltage characteristic as an S-shaped, respectively Z-shaped bistability. Their presence attributes to the gaseous conductor the ability to work as an S-shaped, respectively an N-shaped negative differential resistance.