Pulsed dye laser diagnostics of vacuum arc cathode spots

The ignition and arc phases of vacuum arcs were investigated using differential dye laser absorption photography with simultaneous high spatial (micrometer) and temporal (nanosecond) resolution. The discharge duration was 800 ns, the current 50-150 A, the electrode material copper, and the cathode-anode distance less than 50 μm. A 0.4 ns laser pulse (tunable, γ=480-530 nm) was used to obtain momentary absorption photographs of the cathode region. During ignition, an optically thick anode plasma expanded toward the cathode, decaying within 25 ns after bridging the electrode gap. In the arc phase, a fragmentary structure of the cathode spots was observed in situ for the first time. The microspots have a characteristic size of 5-10 μm. They appear and disappear on a nanosecond time scale. The plasma density of the microspots was estimated to be greater than (3-6)×10²⁶ m^-3     

Nanosecond displacement times of arc cathode spots in vacuum

With a high speed camera consisting of a combination of framing and streak channels, arc spots on a copper cathode are imaged in the spectral range 200-800 nm with spatial and time resolution of <5 μm and ⩽10 ns, respectively. At currents of 30-70 A and sufficiently long time after ignition (3-300 μs), the spots consist of fragments with diameters of 10-20 μm. These fragments appear and disappear in a cyclic way. Formation times <50 ns and residence times <100 ns have been observed. Apparent fragment merging into one spot is due to the extinction of all of them except one, while apparent spot splitting is due to the formation of a new fragment outside the spot center. Consecutive fragment formation appears as displacement with momentary velocities up to 1000 m/s. The fragment dynamics leads to random displacement of the spot center with a ratio of mean square displacement 〈R²〉 to the observation time t of 〈R²〉/t=(2.3±0.6)×10^-3m ²/s. This holds down to t=100 ns. Thus, fragments and spots operate on nanosecond time scales. Prior to apparent spot splitting and after apparent fragment merging the spot brightness increases considerably. When analyzing time-integrated pictures, the stages of increased brightness lead to overestimating the average residence time. Because of the short formation time, the fragments do not reach a balance between surface heating and heat conduction into the bulk, i.e., there is no stationary evaporation. A further substructure of the fragments exists with size <5 μm and timescale ⩽10 ns     

Measurement of cathode spot parameters with pulsed laserdiagnostics

The cathode spot formation in air within the first 170 ns was investigated by laser absorption photography and ps-pulse interferometry. The discharge was initiated between electrodes made from Ag or Pd with cathode-anode distance below 300 μm, the arc duration was some milliseconds, and the arc current 5-10 A. Picosecond holographic interferometry and momentary absorption photography yielded spatial-temporal density distributions in the ignition phase of the cathode spot. An absolute electron density value on the order of 4×10²⁶ m^-3 has been found. In contrast to vacuum, the cathode spot plasmas broaden little with increasing distance from the cathode, thus narrow plasma channels are observed in the vicinity of the cathode surface having diameters <20 μm     

Plasma parameters within the cathode spot of laser-induced vacuumarcs: experimental and theoretical investigations

Cathode spot formation in laser-induced breakdown in vacuum was investigated by laser absorption photography with high spatial (0.5 μm) and temporal (100 ps) resolution. The discharge was initiated between Cu electrodes with a cathode-anode distance of 15-250 μm. The duration of pulsed discharges was 750 ns and dc discharges some milliseconds; the current was below 10 A. Picosecond momentary absorption photography yielded spatial-temporal density distributions in the ignition phase of the cathode spot. An absolute electron density >5×10²⁶ m^-3 in narrow plasma fragments with a diameter smaller than 5 μm was estimated. Mathematical modeling has satisfactorily explained the formation of the narrow plasma channel due to the bulk current self-focusing, as well as due to the generation of nonstationary emissive centers at the moving boundary of the expanding cathode spot plasma     

Two-dimensional observation of copper vapor in vacuum arcs bylaser-induced fluorescence

The density distribution and the velocity of copper neutral atoms emitted from a single cathode spot in 40 A vacuum arc were measured by the two-dimensional (2-D) laser-induced fluorescence method. The density was calibrated from the two-dimensional fluorescence image observed by a CCD camera. The gap space was almost filled with the copper atoms, and the density reached 5×10¹⁹/m³. We varied the wavelength of the laser light and measured the velocity of the copper atoms emitted from the cathode spot using the effect of Doppler shift. The velocity of the copper atoms was about 10 km/s     

Measurements of the behaviour of neutral atom density in a diffusevacuum arc by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF)

The method of laser-induced fluorescence was used to study the behavior of the absolute neutral vapor density of a diffuse vacuum arc on FeCu contacts. The local and temporal resolutions were 1 mm³ and 10 μs, respectively. The arc current had a sinusoidal shape of 5.8-ms duration with peak values of 90 and 510 A. It was found that the maximum densities of the iron and copper atoms are 1.2×10 ¹⁷ m^-3 and 7.5×10¹⁷ m^-3, respectively. During the arc the density was correlated with the current. At current zero the measured densities decreased to 10 ¹⁶ m^-3. After current zero, an exponential density decay with a time constant of about 100 μs was observed, indicating the recovery of dielectric strength after current zero. Measurements of the neutron iron vapor density at different spatial positions in the electrode gap reveal a nonisotropic distribution. From the measurements of the population distribution of the iron ground-state multiplet a ⁵D, the excitation temperature was derived. This temperature was low compared with the cathode spot temperature 2500-4000 K and decreased from 1600 K at the current maximum to 1000 K at current zero. The results indicate that the generation of neutrals is caused by flying evaporating metal droplets rather than by molten surface areas     

Residence time of metal ions generated from microsecond vacuum arcs

Vacuum gaps of 1 mm with lead or copper cathode are fired by a 13 μs duration sinusoidal arc or a 10 μs duration exponentially-decaying arc, and time-of-flight (TOF) ion measurements are made at variable times after the arc ignition. At the lead cathode, Pb⁺ and Pb⁺⁺ ions are generated and the upper limit on the times for Pb⁺ ion detection are 48 μs and 46 μs from the arc ignition for the sinusoidal and exponential arcs, respectively. At the copper cathode, Cu⁺, Cu⁺⁺, and Cu⁺⁺⁺ ions are generated and detected within 15 μs and 13 μs from the arc ignition for the sinusoidal and exponential arcs, respectively. The residence time of the Pb⁺ ions in the ion acceleration region is approximately 35 μs, regardless of the waveform of the arc current. The residence time of the copper ions, described by the time constant of the time-of-flight ion current delay characteristics, is 3 μs     

Investigation of arc roots of constricted high current vacuum arcs

The anodic and cathodic arc roots of constricted high current vacuum arcs were investigated with a fast framing charge-coupled device camera of 1 μs exposure time. The experiments were performed with cup-shaped contacts, with sinusoidal currents of amplitudes between 20 and 100 kA, and a sine halfwave duration of 10-12 ms. The arcs were drawn by contact separation and accelerated by the Lorentz force between the arc current and the transverse magnetic field generated by the contrate contact. The anode and cathode arc roots behave reproducibility and arc scaleable within the range of currents investigated. Both types of arc roots are elliptical, with a major to minor axis ratio of 1.4. The major axis points are in the direction of arc propagation. Anodic and cathodic arc root cross-sectional areas as a function of current can both be described by a potential law with a common exponent of 0.76. For currents of 20-100 kA, mean current densities of 81-121 and 41-60 kA/cm ² were found in anode and cathode arc roots, respectively. Estimations of their temperature and vapor densities were performed. For the investigated current range T_A≈3300-3600 K, n_A ≈1.6*10¹⁹-2.2*10¹⁹cm^-3 and T _C≈3200-3400 K, n_C≈0.8*10¹⁹-1.2*10 ¹⁹ cm^-3 were found for anode and cathode, respectively     

Charge state and residence time of metal ions generated from amicrosecond vacuum arc

Metal ions generated from a microsecond vacuum arc were measured using a time-of-flight (TOF) method. A point-plane vacuum gap was fired by an impulse voltage to generate metal ions. The risetime and time constant for the decay of the arc current were 0.1 and 4.5 μs, respectively. TOF ion currents were measured for variable ion extraction times after the arc ignition. At a lead cathode, Pb⁺ and Pb ⁺⁺ ions were detected for ion extraction times less than 45 μs. The average charge-state fractions of the Pb⁺ and Pb ⁺⁺ ions were 91 and 9%, respectively. At a copper cathode, Cu ⁺, Cu⁺⁺, and Cu⁺⁺⁺ ions were detected for ion-extraction times less than 12.5 μs, and the average charge-state fractions were 42, 41, and 17%, respectively. The residence times of the generated lead and copper ions were also discussed     

Metal vapor densities and excitation temperatures in a pseudosparkswitch

The densities of iron, tungsten, copper, and nickel vapors produced by pseudosparks in a switch-like configuration are measured by laser-induced fluorescence. The cathode is made of a composite material essentially consisting of tungsten, but also containing the other metals mentioned. Total vapor densities are calculated from ground state densities using the excitation temperature of iron, which decays from 1900 K at 9 μs after initiation of the discharge to 600 K about 150 μs later. With maximum copper and tungsten vapor densities of 1.5×10¹⁸ m^-3 and 2×10¹⁷ m ^-3, respectively, the composition of metal vapor differs considerably from that of the cathode material. Iron and nickel vapors are present with densities in the range of 10¹⁶ m^-3. By comparison of vapor density ratios with vapor pressure ratios it is found that regions with temperatures in excess of 5000 K exist on the cathode. These are attributable to emission sites providing the electrons for current conduction. The vapor densities are roughly proportional to the current amplitude, while the gas pressure has practically no influence between 15 and 30 Pa     

Importance of high local cathode spot pressure on the attachment ofthermal arcs on cold cathodes

The importance of having high local cathode spot pressures for the self-sustaining operation of a thermal arc plasma on a cold cathode is theoretically investigated. Applying a cathode sheath model to a Cu cathode, it is shown that cathode spot plasma pressures ranging 7.4-9.2 atm and 34.2-50 atm for electron temperatures of ~1 eV are needed to account for current densities of 10⁹ and 10¹⁰ A·m^-2, respectively. The study of the different contributions from the ions, the emission electrons, and the back-diffusing plasma electrons to the total current and heat transfer to the cathode spot has allowed us to show the following. 1) Due to the high metallic plasma densities, a strong heating of the cathode occurs and an important surface electric field is established at the cathode surface causing strong thermo-field emission of electrons. 2) Due to the presence of a high density of ions in the cathode vicinity, an important fraction of the total current is carried by the ions and the electron emission is enhanced. 3) The total current is only slightly reduced by the presence of back-diffusing plasma electrons in the cathode sheath. For a current density j_tot=10⁹ A·m^-2 , the current to the cathode surface is mainly transported by the ions (76-91% of j_tot while for a current density j_tot = 10¹⁰ A·m^-2, the thermo-field electrons become the main current carriers (61-72% of j_tot). It is shown that the cathode spot plasma parameters are those of a high pressure metallic gas where deviations from the ideal gas law and important lowering of the ionization potentials are observed     

Plasma development in the early phase of vacuum surface flashover

The primary physical mechanism responsible for charge-carrier amplification, in a developing surface discharge, has eluded conclusive identification for decades. This paper describes the results of experiments to directly detect charge-carriers, above the dielectric surface, within the developing discharge. Free electrons are detected by measuring the deflection of a laser beam, focused to a 20 μm 1/e diameter, with an angular sensitivity of 0.18 mV/μrad and a risetime of 6 ns. The estimated detection threshold for electrons in the developing discharge is 10¹⁶ cm^-3 to 10¹⁷ cm^-3. A streak camera is used to gather spatial information regarding luminous processes with a maximum resolution of 25 μm and 0.6 ns. Current measurements have a sub-nanosecond response time and a detection threshold of 100 mA. Laser deflection measurements demonstrate the rapid development of a particle gradient, generally within 10 μm of the surface near the cathode and in the range of 75 to 175 μm from the surface near the anode, during the developing discharge. Streak camera measurements demonstrate the formation of an intense, visible emission, 25 to 50 μm in diameter, located near the insulator surface, during the formation of the discharge. These results imply that charge-carrier amplification occurs above the surface of the insulator, in a region of neutral particles desorbed or otherwise ejected from the insulator surface     

氘化物阴极真空弧放电光斑分布

氘化物真空弧放电在许多领域均有应用,如无损检测、石油探井、中子活化分析等。和金属阴极不同,氘化物阴极放电时会释放大量的气体分子,表现出许多不同性质。采用放大镜头和ICCD相机观察了氘化物阴极真空弧放电光斑分布。测量系统的空间分辨率约为5 μm,时间分辨率最小2 ns。放电脉冲半高全宽（FWHM）0.9 μs,弧流波形为半周期正弦波。实验结果表明,氘化物真空弧放电时,所有阴极斑聚集为一个群落,表现为一个大光斑;在液滴作用下,阴极斑群落偶尔也会分裂为两个或多个群落;光斑形状不受弧流影响,但面积和亮度会随弧流增加而增大。氘化物阴极放电斑点聚集有利于产生高密度等离子体,提高放电效率。     

Why vacuum arc cathode spots can appear larger than they are

The visual appearance of arc cathode spots in vacuum is studied experimentally and theoretically. Emission photographs of the spots taken with line radiation have a broad light profile with a rather flat slope (proportional to r^-β with β≈2, r being the distance from the spot center), while photographs taken in absorption are small, having a sharp edge with a steep slope of the profile (β⩾4). Emission photographs from the continuum are similar to absorption photographs. Theoretical analysis shows that the emitted line radiation cannot stem from the locus of excitation. As a consequence, the particles are excited at the edge of the dense spot core, but they radiate at a greater distance due to the finite lifetime of the excited levels and the plasma expansion. Thus, emission photographs from line radiation indicate a greater spot size (about 100 μm) than corresponding to the active spot radius which amounts to ⩽10 μm. This statement holds for discharge durations from 10 ns up to at least 100 μs. The spots exist not only at ignition but during the whole time of the discharge, the location varying due to the spot movement. Absorption photographs show a small size of 10-20 μm still 200 μs after ignition     

Neutral copper vapor density and electric recovery after forcedextinction of vacuum arcs

Dielectric recovery data were obtained for vacuum arcs between chromium copper butt contacts 30 mm in diameter and 2 mm apart. The 50-Hz arc current was forced to zero at its maximum of 200 A in about 1 μs. Following current zero, high-voltage pulses of a sufficient amplitude to always cause breakdown were applied to the gap. Gap recovery is characterized by the measured breakdown voltage as a function of time. Dielectric strength of the gap rises sharply within the first few microseconds after current zero, reaching its final value in about 10 μs. Neutral copper concentration in the center of the gap was measured by laser-induced fluorescence under conditions very similar to those of the recovery measurements. In contrast to the fast gap recovery, the copper vapor concentration does not change substantially during the first 100 μs from its value of 1.4×10¹⁸ m ^-3 near current zero. It is concluded that the neutral copper vapor concentration does not play a decisive role in gap recovery under these experimental conditions. This is corroborated by the fact that the mean free path for electron-impact ionization of copper atoms exceeds the gap length by four orders of magnitude     

Validity conditions for complete and partial local thermodynamicequilibrium of nonhydrogenic level systems and their application tocopper vapor arcs in vacuum

Validity conditions for complete and partial local thermodynamic equilibrium (CLTE and PLTE) of homogeneous, time-dependent, and optically thin plasmas are derived. For Cu I, electron densities of n_e⩾(5×10²²-5×10²³ ) m^-3 are required for the establishment of CLTE. For Cu I and Cu II, n_e⩾(5×10²¹-5×10²¹ -5×10²²) m^-3 is necessary for PLTE (for electron temperatures of 1-2 eV). Application to low-current copper vapor arcs in vacuum shows that CLTE can be expected for r<200-600 μm (r=distance from the cathode spot). A further limitation follows for temperatures of 2 eV or higher if diffusion effects are taken into consideration. Consequently, the use of the LTE formulas in plasma spectroscopy of low-current vacuum arcs is very limited     

Investigations of the Cathode Spot Dynamics in a Vacuum Arc Coating Process

Influence of cathode materials (Ti, Al, Cu, TiN), ambient gases (Ar, N₂, p = 0.1-1 Pa) and the arc current itself on the motion and the velocity of cathode spots in an arc coating process have been investigated with the help of a new high speed framing camera. It was found, that the cathode material causes different spot currents but in general the spot arrangement and the motion on the surface are similar. Surface contaminations due to ambient gases affect this dynamics in several ways. Insulating layers like AIN can drastically increase the instantaneous spot velocity, for example from <5 m/s on Al up to 170 m/s on AIN contaminated areas. TiN layers with a high conductivity increase the spot mobility at first. But at nearly completely contaminated surfaces (simulated by a TiN cathode), the mobility is strongly decreased. The values change from an average velocity of 6.3 m/s with a diffusion constant of 54 cm²/s (Ti, 0.01 Pa) to 2 m/s and 6.4 cm²/s at TiN. The course of the instantaneous spot velocity during the spot splitting phase was investigated too. The instantaneous spot velocity of each of the two new spots originated from the starting spot is relatively high (30–40 m/s) within the first 50 μs. The cathode material and the ambient gases are of slight influence in this phase. The movement is directed. In the further development the instantaneous spot velocity is decreasing to values under 5–10 m/s. The motion is now more and more random. Additionally it could be proved, that the lower stability limit for a stable discharge is strongly connected with the spot current, which depends on discharge conditions.     

Velocities of copper and silver ions generated from an impulsevacuum arc

Vacuum gaps with copper and silver needle cathodes were fired by a 13 μs duration half-cycle sinusoidal arc, and charge states of the ions were analyzed using the time of flight (TOF) method at different positions in the direction perpendicular to the electrode axis. Velocities of each charge state ion were determined assuming a collisionless flight from the cathode region to the outside of the gap. The velocities of the fastest ions of copper and silver are 2.1 and 1.6×10⁴ m/s, respectively, regardless of the charge state. The velocities of the ions released with the arc extinction are lower, and differ depending on the state of the charge     

真空短间隙微弧级联效应观测

利用0.5 mm间隙微通道板成像器观测了微弧放电的斑点级联效应.实验发现,微弧阴极斑点的运动轨迹呈多类型的折线轨迹,斑点间隙在200—300 μm,首发射阴极斑点的放电强度比次级斑点高一个量级以上,而且次级斑点之间的放电强度相对稳定,次级斑点在放电阴极表面无融蚀现象.实验表明,次级斑点产生机制与首发射存在较强的依赖关系. 关键词： 阴极斑点 微弧级联 微通道板成像器     

Pressure limits for the vacuum arc deposition technique

Observations of the cathodic copper plasma expansion at low pressures of He, Ar, and SF₆ showed that, for background gas mass densities of ρ_g=1 to 4×10^-4 kg/m ³ and higher, the plasma and gas are separated into two volumes. A shock wave acts as a boundary between the two volumes. The boundary attains a stationary position once its expansion velocity decreases to the velocity of sound in the background gas. This position corresponds to a distance R_c to the cathode that agrees with a snowplow expansion model, giving R_c ^βf=E_r, where f is a function of the arc current and background gas characteristics, E _r is the erosion rate of the cathode, and β varies between 2.1 and 2.5. The interaction model is based on kinetic energy exchanges between two gas-like volumes without other energy losses. A maximum pressure limit for vacuum arc deposition is set for ρ_g /I=2 to 9×10^-6 kg/m³ A