Hollow Cathode Produced Electron Beams for Plasma Generation: Cathode Operation in Gas Mixtures

Abstract

Pulsed hollow cathode discharges, used to generate kilovolt electron beams for the production of plasmas, were studied in low pressure (50-70 mTorr) backgrounds of argon, oxygen, nitrogen, SF sub 6 and mixtures thereof. Cathode currents were measured as a function of cathode voltage, duty factor, and relative gas concentration. The cathode current was found to have a dependence on all variables, with the greatest impact being operating gas for all voltages and duty factors. The ambient gas is thought to influence the production of secondary electrons at the cathode surface thereby impacting the operation of the hollow cathode discharge and electron beam production.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 15, 2006
Accession Number
ADA459268

Entities

People

  • Darrin Leonhardt
  • Richard Fernsler
  • Scott G. Walton

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Charged Particles
  • Electron Beams
  • Electron Emission
  • Electrons
  • Emission
  • Glow Discharges
  • Ions
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Materials Processing
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Partial Pressure
  • Photoexcitation
  • Secondary Emission
  • Steady State
  • Surface Properties
  • Work Functions

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Microelectronics