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Modeling the Low-Pressure High-Voltage Branch of the Paschen Curve for Hydrogen and Deuterium

Journal Article · · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
  2. GE Vernova Operations, LLC, Niskayuna, NY (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
A physical and numerical model of the Townsend discharge in molecular hydrogen and deuterium has been developed to meet the needs of designing a plasma-based switching device for power grid applications. Here, the model allows to predict the low-pressure branch of the Paschen curve for applied voltage in the range of several hundred kilovolts. In the regime of interest, electrons are in a runaway state and ionization by ions and fast neutrals sustains the discharge. It was essential to correctly account for both gas-phase and surface interactions (electron emission and electron backscattering), especially in terms of their dependence on particle energy. The model yields results consistent with prior data obtained for lower voltage. The three-species (electrons, ions, and fast neutrals) model successfully captures the essential physics of the process.
Research Organization:
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-09CH11466; AR0001107
OSTI ID:
2437695
Journal Information:
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 52; ISSN 0093-3813
Publisher:
IEEECopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (14)

Electron Ejection from Solids by Atomic Particles with Kinetic Energy journal January 1968
Cold‐cathode, pulsed‐power plasma discharge switch journal September 1996
Sputtering of Silver by Hydrogen Ions journal July 1958
Electric breakdown in deuterium and hydrogen at low pressures journal September 1997
Investigation of the Paschen curve for helium in the 100–1000 kV range journal September 2017
Similitude and Anode Material Effects in H2 and D2 Discharges Below the Critical Pressure† journal November 1959
Backscattering of 10-100 keV electrons from thick targets journal January 1975
Particle-in-cell simulations of the direct-current argon breakdown process in the 10–300 kV range journal November 2022
High-Voltage Glow Discharges in D 2 Gas. II. Cathode Fall Theory journal January 1962
The Emission of Secondary Electrons Under High Energy Positive Ion Bombardment journal March 1939
Onset of self-breakdown in a low-pressure spark gap journal May 1981
Equilibration distance of ions in the cathode fall journal November 1985
Discharge characteristics of the spherical inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) device journal January 1997
Monte Carlo method for finding the ionization and secondary emission coefficients and I–V characteristic of a Townsend discharge in hydrogen journal April 2008

Figures / Tables (13)

FIG. 1(p. 4)figure FIG. 1
FIG. 2(p. 5)figure FIG. 2
FIG. 3(p. 6)figure FIG. 3
FIG. 4(p. 8)figure FIG. 4
FIG. 5(p. 11)figure FIG. 5
FIG. 6(p. 12)figure FIG. 6
FIG. 7(p. 13)figure FIG. 7
FIG. 8(p. 14)figure FIG. 8
FIG. 9(p. 15)figure FIG. 9
FIG 10(p. 16)figure FIG 10
FIG. 11(p. 17)figure FIG. 11
FIG. 12(p. 19)figure FIG. 12
FIG. 13.(p. 20)figure FIG. 13.

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Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY