PHYSICAL PROCESSES IN ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN IN VACUUM.

Abstract

The problems considered are whether the breakdown that occurs between two parallel-plane electrodes in a vacuum is an anode-induced or cathode-induced breakdown and what conditions determine which type of breakdown is dominant. The critical anode power density for an anode-induced breakdown and the critical cathode current density for a cathode-induced breakdown were measured and the experimental results were measured and the experimental results were compared with predictions from theory of heat conduction. An analysis of these experimental results led to a criterion for determining the type of breakdown which predominated as a function of separation between electrodes and the thermal and electrical conductivities of the material of the electrodes. It was shown that there were four distinct regions as a function of separation, characterized by cathode-induced, anode-induced breakdown, or both. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0812875

Entities

People

  • Takao Utsumi

Organizations

  • Cornell University College of Engineering

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Conductivity
  • Current Density
  • Electrical Conductivity
  • Electrodes
  • Materials
  • Physical Properties

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.