Dynamics of the Formation of a Virtual Cathode in an Electron Beam Passing through a Dielectric

An analytical solution of the problem on the initial stage of the formation of a virtual cathode in an electron beam passing through a dielectric medium is presented.     

Dark matter and dark energy from the solution of the strong CP problem

The Peccei-Quinn (PQ) solution of the strong CP problem requires the existence of axions, which are viable candidates for dark matter. If the Nambu-Goldstone potential of the PQ model is replaced by a potential V(|Phi|) admitting a tracker solution, the scalar field |Phi| can account for dark energy, while the phase of Phi yields axion dark matter. If V is a supergravity (SUGRA) potential, the model essentially depends on a single parameter, the energy scale Lambda. Once we set Lambda approximately equal to 10(10) GeV at the quark-hadron transition, |Phi| naturally passes through values suitable to solve the strong CP problem, later growing to values providing fair amounts of dark matter and dark energy.     

Two forms of attachment of an atmospheric-pressure direct-current arc in argon to a thermionic cathode

Comparative investigation of two forms of attachment of a dc (20 < I < 200 A) atmospheric-pressure arc in argon to a thermionic cathode made of pure tungsten is carried out. The current-voltage characteristics of the arc, axial distribution of the cathode rod surface temperature (except for the site of arc attachment), and plasma temperature axial distribution in the cathode region are measured, and the current density on the cathode surface is estimated. The measurements of current-voltage curves shows that the voltages of the arc with different forms of cathode attachment differ distinctly (but not too much) one from another, the curves for two modes iontersect. This confirms the results of theoretical analysis carried out earlier by M.S. Benilov who has showed that an existence of different forms of attachment is associated with the presence of branching points in a solution to the cathode heat balance problem. The point of intersection should be viewed as one such point. Optical measurements disclose that the temperature and its distribution over the cathode rod surface differ greatly for the two forms of attachment considered. The plasma temperature in the cathode region of the contracted attachment far exceeds that in the diffuse attachment, exceeding 3 eV in the immediate vicinity of the cathode surface. The maximal temperature of the plasma in the contracted attachment does not depend on the current. Analysis of erosion prints shows that the current density on the cathode does not depend on the current for both forms of cathodic attachment. For the contracted attachment, the current density is roughly four times higher (～10⁴ A/cm²) than for the diffuse form. The experimental data are in good agreement with present-day calculations of the cathode plasma parameters and temperature conditions.     

Relation between space-charge-limiting current and electric field enhancement factor at curved surface cathode

A two-dimensional solution of space-charge-limiting current for a high current vacuum diode with a spherical cathode is presented. The relation between space-charge-limiting current and electric field enhancement factor at the cathode surface for the diode with a curved surface cathode is also discussed. It is shown that compared with the current given by the conventional Child—Langmuir law, which describes the one-dimensional space-charege-limiting current, the two-dimensional space-charge-limiting current in such a diode is enhanced due to the electric-field enhancement along the cathode surface. Among practical parameter ranges, enhancement factor η_b approximately satisfies η_b ≈ Aβⁿ, where β is the electric field enhancement factor at the cathode surface, and n is a constant between 1 and 2, which is confirmed to be universal for the diodes with curved surface cathodes.     

Thermionic Cathode Electron Gun for High Current Densities

An electron gun using lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) as a cathode material is being studied for use as a robust thermionic emitter at high cathode current densities. It has a standard planar cathode, Pierce-type electron gun design with a space-charge-limited perveance of 3.2 × 10-6 A/V3/2. Thus far it has been operated up to 36 kV in the space-charge-limited regime. The cathode is heated by electron bombardment and radiation from an auxiliary tungsten filament. The total heating requirement is found to be 202 W/cm2 of cathode area at a cathode temperature of 1626°C. These observations are found to be in reasonable agreement with a thermal steady-state power balance model. Beam current distribution measurements are made with a movable collector and Faraday cup, and are found to be in agreement with an electron-gun computer code. The cathode temperature distribution is also measured.     

Spatial variation of the linewidth of Kr atomic lines as observed on optogalvanic signals in cathode fall region of hollow cathode discharge

An abrupt change in the spectral width of optogalvanic (OG) signals of Kr atomic lines has been observed at a distance from the cathode wall where the signal itself changes its sign, by using a hollow cathode lamp whose cathode has its both ends open. The width is broader near the cathode wall with its magnitude varying by discharge current while the narrower width which is obtained on passing the laser beam in the central region of cathode cylinder is independent of the current. It is suggested that a well-defined region, where the particles of larger cross section of collisions with Kr atom are confined, is present in front of the cathode wall.     

The Influence of the Self-Magnetic Field on the Steady-State Current Distribution in an Axially Flowing Conducting Medium

The steady-state electric current distribution in a multicathode-spot vacuum arc was determined by a solution of the magnetic transport equation subject to various boundary conditions. The inter-electrode region of the arc is modeled as a uniform plasma flowing from the cathode to the anode. Dimensional analysis shows that three parameters determine the magnetic field, and hence the current density which is derived from it: AR-the ratio of the electrode separation to the electrode radius, Rmm-magnetic Reynolds number of the axial material flow, and Rme-magnetic Reynolds number of the axial electron flow. While the anode side of the conducting medium is described as an equipotential surface, the following three cases of boundary conditions for the cathode side are examined: 1) a known current density distribution is assumed over the entire cathode side of the plasma surface; 2) the cathode side is an equipotential surface; and 3) the current is allowed to cross the cathode surface only through a finite number of ring shaped regions. Numerical solutions of the nonlinear magnetic transport equation show a constriction of the current at the anode side for all boundary conditions mentioned. On the other hand, the current moves to the perimeter of the cathode for boundary condition 2). When AR, Rmm, and Rme equal 0.72,-0.16, and 1.73, respectively, and a uniform current density flows at the cathode side, the on-axis current density at the anode is six times larger than its value at the cathode.     

剖析一道经典光学例题的疏忽

在现行光学教材中有一道关于迈克耳孙干涉仪的应用例题,由于忽略了一个极微小的细节,使得计算结果出现了偏差．本文对此问题进行了详细的分析．     

Calculation of the electron beam current in a vacuum diode with a magnetically insulated edge cathode

The current of a steady-state electron beam emitted from the magnetically insulated, finite-emissivity edge cathode of a two-electrode coaxial gun is calculated. The dependence of the emission current on the applied voltage is analyzed by solving a self-consistent problem. The field structure near the cathode edge is investigated, and its dependence on the current of the generated electron beam is determined.     

Calculation of the parameters of a high-current reflective discharge with a hot cathode

A physical model of a self-sustaining reflective discharge is formulated based on the continuity equation for the electron flux and the equation of energy balance on the hot cathode. The model allows one to calculate the current-voltage characteristic of a high current reflective discharge with a hot cathode in a wide range of magnetic fields, discharge cell dimensions, and cathode material work functions. An advantage of the model is that it is capable of describing the ordinary operating mode of a reflective discharge with cold cathodes as a limiting case. The model predicts the existence of two discharge operating modes with thermionic electron emission on the cathode: a low-voltage mode with a high current density and a high-voltage mode with a significantly lower current density. It is shown that the low-voltage operating mode can occur in a wide range of the discharge currents, while the discharge voltage can be substantially reduced by using a cathode material with a low work function.     

Numerical study of the current-voltage characteristic of a plasma-filled high-current diode

A numerical study is performed of a one-dimensional model of a high current plasma-filled diode, connected in a circuit with a voltage generator. Flow of the plasma from an external source into the diode anode-cathode gap through the plane of the cathode grid proves to have a definite effect on the diode current-voltage characteristic. An estimate is made of the limiting current above which formation of a cathode double layer occurs. Generation of explosive emission at a high value of current or the time derivative of current causes rapid expansion of the cathode layer due to a lack of the majority, electron current component and the presence of a phase intensified by plasma erosion. Dependence of the current-voltage characteristic on density of cathode explosive emission centers is noted.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 48–53, October, 1988.     

向内发射磁绝缘振荡器

提出了一种向内发射磁绝缘振荡器,并给出了微波轴向提取的方法。这种新型结构通过外置阴极、内置阳极,使参与束波作用的轮辐电流通过阳极回流提供了自磁绝缘的角向磁场,有提高器件效率的可能。而外置阴极使阴极的发射面积增大,发射电流密度减小,有利于延长阴极寿命。通过粒子模拟,得到了几何参数与磁绝缘线振荡器输出功率的关系。在电压890 kV,电流56.1 kA下,输出功率为3.6 GW,频率为8.2GHz。     

Measurement of the Lambda b0 lifetime in Lambda b0-->J/psi Lambda 0 in pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV

We report a measurement of the Lambda b0 lifetime in the exclusive decay Lambda b0-->J/psi Lambda 0 in pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV using an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb-1 of data collected by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Using fully reconstructed decays, we measure tau(Lambda b0)=1.593(-0.078)(+0.083)(stat)+/-0.033(syst) ps. This is the single most precise measurement of tau(Lambda b0) and is 3.2sigma higher than the current world average.     

被动式DMFC水滴积聚及对放电性能影响

本文结合恒电流放电时阴极水滴积聚过程,对影响被动式直接甲醇燃料电池恒流放电性能的甲醇浓度、电流密度及环境湿度等因素进行了实验研究及讨论。结果表明:甲醇浓度高于4 M时,阴极水淹所造成的氧气传输限制为电池放电时间的控制因素;低电流密度放电时,恒电流放电时间主要受阴极侧水淹的影响;高电流密度时,主要受甲醇消耗的影响;湿度越大越易引起阴极水淹。     

High resolution spectroscopy of (lambda)(12)B by electroproduction

An experiment measuring electroproduction of hypernuclei has been performed in hall A at Jefferson Lab on a 12C target. In order to increase counting rates and provide unambiguous kaon identification two superconducting septum magnets and a ring imaging Cherenkov detector were added to the hall A standard equipment. An unprecedented energy resolution of less than 700 keV FWHM has been achieved. Thus, the observed (Lambda)(12)B spectrum shows for the first time identifiable strength in the core-excited region between the ground-state s-wave Lambda peak and the 11 MeV p-wave Lambda peak.     

Decolorization of acid red B aqueous solution by positive and negative electrical discharge

We investigated the decolorization of acid red B in aqueous solution by atmospheric discharge. It was found that decolorization was significantly greater when the aqueous solution served as the cathode than when it served as the anode. Our investigation suggests that hydroxyl radicals could be a major factor for decolorization in the solution phase. An analysis of the energy transportation by charge carriers in the discharge processes revealed that the mean energy transported from positive ions to the aqueous cathode was considerably higher than that transported from electrons/negative ions to the aqueous anode, and this could probably have indirectly affected the decolorization.     

约束阴极微弧氧化放电特性研究

利用Na₂SiO₃-KOH溶液体系,以工业纯铝为基体材料对约束阴极微弧氧化的放电特性进行了研究.考察了恒压模式下电极距离对氧化电流、电位分布及起弧电压的影响,并对电极距离与微弧氧化电能利用率间的关系进行了分析. 结果表明:对于阴阳极等约束条件下,随阴阳极距离加大,工作电流逐渐减小. 而对于仅约束阴极情况,工作电流随着阴阳极间距增加而增大. 这是由于增加阴阳极间距时,虽然约束阴极正下方试样表面的电场强度降低,工作电流减小,但远离约束电极处,阳极表面电场强度却增加,工作电流增大. 起弧电压随电极间距离的增大而升高,但阳极表面电场强度几乎保持不变. 微弧氧化陶瓷层厚度由处理中心沿半径向外逐渐变薄,且中心处陶瓷膜厚度随电极距离的增大迅速减小,电能利用率随之降低. 关键词： 微弧氧化 约束阴极 放电特性 电极间距     

Effect of space charge and the initial electron velocity on the potential distribution in a plane diode

The problem of the potential distribution in a plane vacuum diode is solved for arbitrary values of the space charge density and the initial electron velocity. The resultant solution makes it possible to study the conditions for the potential minimum appearing near the cathode, to determine the position and depth of this minimum, to derive analytic formulas for the potential distribution in the entire space between the cathode and the anode, and to analyze the problem of an infinitely high space charge density.     

Acceleration of a multicomponent plasma in the cathode region of a vacuum arc

A general solution to the problem of the steady-state spherical expansion of a current-carrying multicomponent plasma into a vacuum is derived. It is shown that, in vacuum arc discharges, the main force accelerating the cathode material, which becomes a plasma at distances of 1 to 300 μm from the cathode surface, is the electron pressure gradient force maintained by Joule heating. It is established that ions of different charges move with the same hydrodynamic velocity, which is uniquely determined by the mass and mean charge of the ions and the maximum electron temperature in the cathode region.     

虚阴极振荡微波辐射

本文概述在EPA-74脉冲线加速器上进行的虚阴极振荡微波辐射实验。1kA,400keV的电子束流经短磁线圈聚焦形成虚阴极,产生波长在6.2～11.5mm的微波辐射,峰值功率约1MW。从提高效率考虑,拟采用特殊设计的实验结构,以形成多级虚阴极振荡。