Spectroscopic investigation of early light emission from anode-initiated surface flashover in vacuum

Clark, Raimi; Mounho, Michael; Brooks, William; Hopkins, Matthew; Stephens, Jacob; Neuber, Andreas

doi:10.1063/5.0190819

Spectroscopic investigation of early light emission from anode-initiated surface flashover in vacuum

Journal Article · Tue Mar 19 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0190819· OSTI ID:2567637

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Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy is used to explore the early development of anode-initiated flashover in vacuum. An experimental apparatus for collecting flashover self-luminosity is introduced, which enables spatially resolved light collection from regions adjacent to the anode and cathode triple junctions. The emitted light is spectrally and temporally resolved utilizing an imaging spectrograph and a fast electronic shutter camera. The first light detectable from flashovers across both Rexolite and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) insulators begins less than 10 ns prior to the flashover gap's impedance collapse and consists of faint broadband feature in primarily visible wavelengths. This suggests luminosity due to excitation in the solid, possibly occurring as a result of field emitted electrons. In the few nanoseconds leading up to and including the impedance collapse, the broadband spectrum grows in intensity and extends into the UV, eventually accompanied by a few emission lines of the insulator material. This is strong evidence that the early stages of anode-initiated flashover include surface layer breakdown of the insulator, as a contrast from cathode-initiated flashover, which is predominately an above-surface process. Spectra accumulated over longer exposures of PTFE flashovers indicate that, in the first few hundred nanoseconds after the impedance collapse, ions from the insulator material constitute the majority of the emission lines. Later, neutral and ionic metal species from the electrode contribute with similar prominence as well as molecular bands from diatomic carbon. Finally, a comparison is provided of the results of these studies to other spectroscopic investigations of vacuum flashover from the literature.

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Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525; NA0003960

OSTI ID:: 2567637

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2479031

Report Number(s):: SAND--2024-15948J

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 31; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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