Application of electron-beam ionized discharges to switches - a comparison of experiment with theory

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.1982.4316179· OSTI ID:5915838

Hallada, M R; Bailey, W F; Bletzinger, P

A theoretical investigation of high-pressure discharges ionized by an external electron beam (e-beam) was conducted. Only when secondary emission from the cathode and electron-impact ionization of metastable states were included in the analysis did calculated current-voltage (I-V) characteristics for argon and methane discharges compare well with experimental data. The I-V characteristics obtained reveal a sharp rise in the current at a certain threshold voltage. This threshold voltage and the entire I-V characteristic are shifted to lower voltages when metastable ionization is significant. Below the threshold voltage and at low external ionization source strengths, a region of negative differential conductivity is obtained. In the high-current region, the I-V slope is controlled by the secondary emission coefficient. The additional cathode sheath ionization from secondary emission and ionization from metastable states significantly reduces the discharge voltage. This important effect can be used to reduce e-beam switch losses and increase lifetime through judicious gas mixture selection and proper cathode conditioning.

• Research Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433
• OSTI ID: 5915838
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States), Vol. 10:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
IONIZATION
SWITCHES
SERVICE LIFE
ARGON
CATHODES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON BEAMS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GAS DISCHARGE TUBES
GAS LASERS
HIGH PRESSURE
LOSSES
METASTABLE STATES
METHANE
SECONDARY EMISSION
THEORETICAL DATA
THRESHOLD CURRENT
ALKANES
BEAMS
CURRENTS
DATA
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON TUBES
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
ENERGY LEVELS
EQUIPMENT
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
LASERS
LEPTON BEAMS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RARE GASES
420800* - Engineering- Electronic Circuits & Devices- (-1989)
640301 - Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics- Beams & their Reactions