Determining the mode of high voltage breakdowns in vacuum devices

Technical Report · Mon Aug 11 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5219199· OSTI ID:5219199

Miller, H. C.; Furno, E. J.; Sturtz, J. P.

Devices were constructed which were essentially vacuum diodes equipped with windows allowing observation of high voltage breakdowns. The waveform of the applied voltage was photographed, and the x-ray output was monitored to investigate electrical breakdown in these vacuum diodes. Results indicate that breakdowns may be divided into two types: (1) vacuum (interelectrode) breakdown - characterized by a diffuse moderately bright discharge, a relative slow and smooth voltage collapse, and a large burst of x-rays, and (2) surface (insulator) flashover - characterized by a bright discharge with a very bright filamentary core, a relatively fast and noisy voltage collapse and no x-ray burst. Useful information concerning the type of breakdown in a vacuum device can be obtained by monitoring the voltage (current) waveform and the x-ray output.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., St. Petersburg, FL (USA). Neutron Devices Dept.
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00656
• OSTI ID: 5219199
• Report Number(s): GEPP-TIS-473
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420800 -- Engineering-- Electronic Circuits & Devices-- (-1989)
640301* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Beams & their Reactions
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BREAKDOWN
DIODE TUBES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON TUBES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
PHOTOGRAPHY
RADIATIONS
VACUUM SYSTEMS
X RADIATION