A　high-energy　electron　beam　was　produced　by　a　multi-gap　pseudospark　device　under　high　breakdown　voltages.　In　this　work,　a　simulation　model　was　developed　to　ascertain　the　mechanism　of　the　discharge　process　in　the　multi-gap　pseudospark,　which　was　verified　by　the　triggered　multi-gap　pseudospark　discharge　experiment.　The　characteristics　of　the　plasma　were　investigated　for　different　anode　voltages　and　pressures.　Results　suggest　the　formation　of　a　virtual　anode　in　the　cathode　aperture　during　the　discharge　process,　followed　by　the　release　of　an　electron　from　the　plasma　in　the　triggered　hollow　cavity.　The　propagation　velocity　of　the　ionization　wave　stimulated　by　the　electron　beam　is　increased　with　pressure　and　applied　voltage　on　the　anode.　The　highest　density　of　the　particles　was　found　in　the　region　of　the　cathode　aperture.　The　densities　of　the　particles　in　the　aperture　of　the　intermediate　electrodes　are　higher　than　at　the　right　adjacent　side　gaps　when　the　entire　gap　space　is　filled　with　the　plasma.　The　peak　of　the　electron　distribution　function　is　found　to　be　situated　at　higher　energies　at　the　beginning　of　discharge,　then　the　electron　distribution　function　gets　shifted　to　lower　energies　on　the　completion　of　discharge.　©　2019,　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC,　part　of　Springer　Nature.