Review of anode phenomena in vacuum arcs

Technical Report · Mon Jun 04 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6935386

Miller, H C

This paper reviews anode phenomena in vacuum arcs. It discusses arc modes at the anode, anode temperature measurements, anode ions, transitions of the arc into various modes (principally the anode spot mode), and theoretical explanations of anode phenomena. A vacuum arc can exhibit five anode discharge modes: (1) a low current mode in which the anode is basically passive, acting only as a collector of particles emitted from the cathode; (2) a second low current mode that can occur if the electrode material is readily sputtered (a flux of sputtered atoms will be emitted by the anode); (3) a footpoint mode, characterized by the appearance of one or more luminous spots on the anode (footpoints are much cooler than the true anode spots present in the last two modes); (4) an anode spot mode in which one large or several small anode spots are present (such spots are very luminous, have a temperature near the atmospheric boiling point of the anode material, and are a copious source of vapor and ions); and (5) an intense arc mode where an anode spot is present, but accompanied by severe cathode erosion. The arc voltage is relatively low and quiet in the two low current modes and the intense arc mode. It is usually high and noisy in the footpoint mode, and it can be either in the anode spot mode. Anode erosion is low, indeed negative, in the two low current modes, and it is low to moderate in the footpoint mode. Severe anode erosion occurs in both the anode spot and intense arc modes.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., St. Petersburg, FL (USA). Neutron Devices Dept.
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00656
• OSTI ID: 6935386
• Report Number(s): GEPP-TIS-802; ON: DE84012371
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700103* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Kinetics
ANODES
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRODES
EROSION
EVAPORATION
LOW PRESSURE
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLASMA