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

Volume

33

Issue

5

fYear

2005

Firstpage

1668

Lastpage

1671

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;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2005.856529

Filename

1518996