Ultraviolet-induced flashover of a plastic insulator using a pulsed excimer laser

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Plasma Chem. Plasma Process.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016000· OSTI ID:6160719

Enloe, C L; Gilgenbach, R M

Ultraviolet-induced flashover has been observed over stressed, angled, acrylic insulators illuminated by a short (60 ns) pulse of excimer laser light at 249 nm. Flashover has been observed at ultraviolet fluences of 5-65 mJ/cm/sup 2/ for electric field stresses approximately 10-30% of static breakdown stress. Insulators at positive angle (conventional configuration) exhibit a reduced tolerance to ultraviolet light versus insulators at negative angle (unconventional configuration) by approximately a factor of 2, while the presence of impurities at the triple point reduces the tolerance to ultraviolet even further. Flashover is related to the fluence, rather than the power density, for short pulses, and the production of photoelectrons is a likely mechanism for the initiation of flashover.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6160719
• Journal Information: Plasma Chem. Plasma Process.; (United States), Vol. 7:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
ELECTRICAL INSULATORS
FLASHOVER
MATERIALS TESTING
PHOTOEMISSION
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
POLYACRYLATES
ACCELERATORS
BEAM OPTICS
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON EMISSION
IONIZATION
KRYPTON FLUORIDE LASERS
LASER RADIATION
PLASMA
STRESSES
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
EQUIPMENT
ESTERS
EXCIMER LASERS
GAS LASERS
LASERS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYMERS
POLYVINYLS
RADIATIONS
SECONDARY EMISSION
TESTING
360604* - Materials- Corrosion
Erosion
& Degradation
430303 - Particle Accelerators- Experimental Facilities & Equipment