Title :
Structure and time behavior of arc cathode spots
Author :
Barengolts, S.A. ; Mesyats, G.A. ; Shmelev, D.L.
Author_Institution :
Inst. of Electrophys., Acad. of Sci., Ekaterinburg, Russia
Abstract :
The paper reviews the state of the art in the study of the physical processes in the cathode spot of a vacuum arc. The most important experimental data are explained in terms of the ecton model of a cathode spot. The finite lifetime of an ecton is responsible for the cyclic character of the processes occurring in a cathode spot. It has been shown that the arc plasma is generated by microexplosions occurring at the cathode surface heated by the Joule mechanism due to the high explosive emission current density. Up to kiloampere currents, the charge state of the arc plasma and the directed velocities of the ions are governed by the operation of a cathode spot cell-an ecton.
Keywords :
cathodes; current density; vacuum arcs; Joule heating; cathode spot; cathode surface; cyclic character; directed velocities; ecton model; finite lifetime; high explosive emission current density; microexplosions; state of the art; vacuum arc; vacuum arcs; Arc discharges; Cathodes; Current density; Explosives; Plasma density; Plasma properties; Plasma temperature; Surface discharges; Threshold current; Vacuum arcs;
Conference_Titel :
Discharges and Electrical Insulation in Vacuum, 2002. 20th International Symposium on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7394-4
DOI :
10.1109/ISDEIV.2002.1027328
