Title: Formation of field-induced breakdown precursors on metallic electrode surfaces

Journal Article · · Frontiers in Physics
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Understanding the underlying factors responsible for higher-than-anticipated local field enhancements required to trigger vacuum breakdown on pristine metal surfaces is crucial for the development of devices capable of withstanding intense operational fields. In this study, we investigate the behavior of nominally flat copper electrode surfaces exposed to electric fields of hundreds of MV/m. Our novel approach considers curvature-driven diffusion processes to elucidate the formation of sharp breakdown precursors. To do so, we develop a mesoscale finite element model that accounts for driving forces arising from both electrostatic and surface-tension-induced contributions to the free energy. Our findings reveal a dual influence: surface tension tends to mitigate local curvature, while the electric field drives mass transport toward regions of high local field density. This phenomenon can trigger the growth of sharper protrusions, ultimately leading to a rapid enhancement of local fields and, consequently, to a runaway growth instability. We delineate supercritical and subcritical regimes across a range of initial surface roughness. Our numerical results are in qualitative agreement with experimentally reported data, indicating the potential practical relevance of field-driven diffusion in the formation of breakdown precursors.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001; AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
2333750
Journal Information:
Frontiers in Physics, Journal Name: Frontiers in Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 12; ISSN 2296-424X
Publisher:
Frontiers Research FoundationCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
breakdown
electrodiffusion
field induced behavior
field-enhancment mechanisms
mesoscale surface diffusion
precursor formation