Voltage Breakdown in RF Cavities, DC Vacuum Gaps, and Computer Simulations

Author

Werner, Greg

Author_Institution

Colorado Univ., Boulder, CO

fYear

2006

fDate

14-18 May 2006

Firstpage

38

Lastpage

38

Abstract

Summary form only given. Results from DC breakdown experiments designed to imitate (to some extent) breakdown in microwave resonators will be presented. "Before" and "after" pictures demonstrate the dangers of contaminant particles, and post-breakdown surface analyses show the damage caused by the arc around the field emitter, including the extent of ion bombardment. A simple model can explain the initiation of breakdown at a field emitter around which a monolayer of neutral atoms suddenly desorbs. Computer simulations using OOPIC show in more detail how breakdown might be thus triggered, and confirm the model\´s predictions of a critical current and gas density necessary for breakdown

Keywords

arcs (electric); cavity resonators; current density; digital simulation; microwave devices; vacuum breakdown; DC vacuum gaps; OOPIC computer simulations; RF cavities; arc; contaminant particles; critical current density; field emitter; gas density; ion bombardment; microwave resonators; neutral atoms; post-breakdown surface analyses; voltage breakdown; Atomic layer deposition; Breakdown voltage; Computer simulation; Critical current; Dielectric breakdown; Electric breakdown; Predictive models; Radio frequency; Surface contamination; Vacuum breakdown;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Power Modulator Symposium, 2006. Conference Record of the 2006 Twenty-Seventh International

Conference_Location

Arlington, VA

Print_ISBN

1-4244-0018-X

Electronic_ISBN

1-4244-0019-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MODSYM.2006.365177

Filename

4216129