Observations of a vacuum spark under different driver conditions of the applied voltage
- Facultad de Fisica, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Casilla 306, Santiago 22 (Chile)
Comparative observations of the Vacuum Spark discharge are presented under differing electrical drive conditions but identical geometrical conditions. A 1.5 [Omega] 120 nsec, coaxial line is used to provide maximum currents to 90 kA. The line may be operated in the usual switched mode to give a rectangular voltage and current wave form, or in the Hybrid mode, in which case the voltage builds slowly until breakdown occurs. In both modes of operation the value of [ital dI]/[ital dt] is about 1[times]10[sup 12] A/sec. A Nd:YAG is focused onto either electrode to initiate the discharge. With the laser focused onto the anode a low-density plasma accompanied by intense electron beams is formed. With the laser focused on the cathode a much higher plasma density is observed in the gap, with the formation of a dense tight pinch close to the cathode, in which hot spots form at peak current. The Hybrid mode is favored for its reproducible behavior.
- OSTI ID:
- 5944824
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Fluids B; (United States), Vol. 5:11; ISSN 0899-8221
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
PINCH EFFECT
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON BEAMS
LASER RADIATION
PLASMA DENSITY
X RADIATION
BEAMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTON BEAMS
PARTICLE BEAMS
RADIATIONS
700350* - Plasma Production
Heating
Current Drive
& Interactions- (1992-)
700390 - Other Plasma Physics Studies- (1992-)