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

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 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
• OSTI ID: 6160719
• Journal Information: Plasma Chem. Plasma Process.; (United States), Journal Name: Plasma Chem. Plasma Process.; (United States) Vol. 7:1; ISSN PCPPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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