Critical Point Parameters and Cathode Spot Cells in Vacuum Arcs

This paper presents a model for the estimation of specific parameters of vacuum arc cathode spot (CS) explosive cells. It involves the reactive force accelerating ions from the spot cell, what is known as the Tanberg effect, and the assumption that the average state of matter during the explosion is near the liquid–gas (plasma) critical point. Specifying the ions’ velocity and erosion rate known from measurements, and the critical pressure, one can estimate the average current density at the CS cell to be about 100 MA/cm² for most of the materials considered.