Withstand strength of metallic surfaces in vacuum

The ability of vacuum to withstand voltage is a function of many variables and is of utmost importance to the designer of vacuum fault interrupters. These variables are related to the surrounding materials, surface conditions, and shapes, as well as the number of conditioning shots. These variables are usually studied in isolated and ideal conditions; this has lead to conflicting results in the past. In this paper, a test method is used that allows some of these variables to be explored using conditions that reflect those inside actual vacuum fault interrupters. The results are discussed with respect to a field emission model and compared with electric fields calculated using commercially available software. This has allowed some variables to be decoupled from each other, so that their effects could be seen and compared to each other.