Title :
Temporal evolution of micro-plasma in a low-current, repetitive vacuum spark soft X-ray source
Author :
Yanagidaira, Takeshi ; Kotake, Wataru ; Miura, Hiromichi ; Tsuruta, Koichi
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Electron. Eng., Ibaraki Univ., Japan
Abstract :
Temporal evolution of micro-plasma and soft X-ray emission in a short vacuum gap, operated with a repetitive low-current (∼100 A) discharge was investigated. The device consists of two resonant circuits having different resonant frequencies for energy storage. Micro-plasma of diameter less than 1 mm is formed during spark phase with a very high-frequency (VHF) voltage, and electrodes are heated by successive high-frequency (HF) current. Thermo-field electrons are accelerated by an electric field in a cathode sheath that is formed after arc extinction. Soft X-rays were emitted mainly in the period between arc extinction and subsequent breakdown.
Keywords :
arcs (electric); plasma X-ray sources; plasma sheaths; plasma sources; sparks; vacuum breakdown; arc extinction; cathode sheath; electric field; electrodes; energy storage; low-current discharge; microplasma; resonant circuits; resonant frequencies; thermofield electrons; vacuum spark soft X-ray source; Electrodes; Electrons; Energy storage; Fault location; Hafnium; RLC circuits; Resonant frequency; Sparks; VHF circuits; Voltage; Cathode spot; electron source; ion sheath; micro-plasma; soft X-ray;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2005.856529
