Spatial and temporal distribution of potential in the pseudospark switch
- Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering
The understanding of emission and transport in the pseudospark is complex because these are related to a transition between two fundamentally different modes of electron emission. In this paper, probe measurements of plasma parameters are presented providing evidence for oscillatory behavior of the current and potential during this transition. It is shown that these fluctuations are related to a glow-to-arc transition wherein smooth current growth is interrupted by cathode spot formation inside of the hollow cathode resulting in very rapid rise in current. These results support a view that quenching observed in the pseudospark is a double-layer phenomenon that occurs when emission cannot exceed secondary emission produced by ion bombardment.
- OSTI ID:
- 118945
- Journal Information:
- IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 23; ISSN ITPSBD; ISSN 0093-3813
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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