Ion spectra of vacuum arc plasma with compound and alloy cathodes

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.343756· OSTI ID:5215500

Sasaki, J ^[1]; Brown, I G ^[2]

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1. Nippon Steel Corporation, 10-1 Fuchinobe 5-chome, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 229, Japan (Japan)
2. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (USA)

We have carried out an experimental investigation of the charge state distribution of ions produced in the vacuum arc plasma for the case when the cathode is a compound or alloy. The plasma was generated in a metal vapor vacuum arc ion source, and the charge state spectra were measured using a time-of-flight method. We have compared these spectra to the spectra obtained from cathodes of the constituent elements. The cathode materials used and reported on here were the following groups: SiC/Si/C (i.e., we have compared the spectra obtained using a cathode of silicon carbide with the spectra obtained using (a) a silicon cathode and (b) a carbon cathode), TiC/TiN/TiO{sub 2}/Ti/C, WC/W/C, (UC-ZrC)/UN/U/Zr/C, brass/Cu/Zn, and stainless steel/Fe/Cr/Ni. The arc current employed throughout was approximately 100 A. We find that the charge state distributions change depending on the elemental composition of the alloy or compound of which the cathode is fabricated.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5215500
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA) Vol. 66:11; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700102* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Diagnostics
ALLOYS
BRASS
CARBIDES
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CATHODES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGE STATE
COPPER
COPPER ALLOYS
COPPER BASE ALLOYS
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ION SOURCES
METALS
NITRIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PNICTIDES
REFRACTORY METAL COMPOUNDS
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD
TITANIUM CARBIDES
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM NITRIDES
TITANIUM OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUNGSTEN CARBIDES
TUNGSTEN COMPOUNDS
ZINC
ZINC ALLOYS