Townsend coefficient,escape curve,and fraction of runaway electrons in copper vapor

Ionization and drift characteristics of electrons in copper vapor in the presence of an external electric field are analyzed. In contrast to normal gases, in copper vapor, the excitation energy of lower states is significantly lower than the ionization potential and the excitation cross section is several times greater than the ionization cross section at the incident-electron energy on the order of the ionization energy. This can affect the characteristics of electron bunching in gas. It is demonstrated that, as in previously studied gases, the notion of the Townsend coefficient remains meaningful even in the presence of strong fields at which the electric force exceeds the electron drag force acting in gas. The dependences of the main ionization and drift characteristics on the reduced field strength, the escape curve (which separates the region of effective electron multiplication and the region where electrons leave the discharge gap without multiplication), and the curves of equal efficiency for the formation of runaway electrons are obtained. It is demonstrated that a relatively high excitation cross section of copper levels leads to a sharper peak on the dependence of the Townsend coefficient on the field strength and a narrower region of the effective electron multiplication in comparison with previously studied gases.     

Die Elektronenbewegung im Neutralgas bei hohen elektrischen Feldern

In strong electric fields the acceleration of the electrons by the field exceeds the deceleration by collisions with neutral molecules. Thus run-away or beam electrons are produced. This paper investigates the motion of the beam electrons in a neutral gas considering ionization processes by electron-molecule-impacts. We start with a time independent current of primary electrons (case a) and a space independant density of primary electrons (case b). The further development of the velocity distribution is calculated. For a molecular hydrogen gas the amplification of the initial electrons, the average ionization, and the velocity distribution of the electrons as a function of space or time respectively is given. The average ionization has an asymptotic solution, which becomes valid, when one primary electron has produced by ionization an avalanche of approximately 100 electrons. The Townsend coefficient α for high values of the field strength is independant of space only in the region of this asymptotic solution.     

Structure of the direct-current magnetron discharge in neon at different polarities of the electrode system

A dc magnetron discharge in neon is studied at different polarities of the electrode system. It is found that the electron energy distribution function is composed of three groups of electrons: fast electrons accelerated by the strong field of a cathode sheath, slow electrons confined in a potential well due to the space-charge field, and intermediate-energy electrons. It is shown that the energy distribution of the confined electrons is a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution function, whereas the energy distribution of the intermediate electrons is typical of electron diffusion at a constant total energy. The measured values of the cathode sheath thickness depend on the source polarity.     

Electron Kinetics in the Cathode Region of a Glow Discharge and in Hollow Cathodes

On the basis of an improved cascade model a multi-group theory for studying the electron kinetics in the cathode region of a glow discharge and in hollow cathodes is developed. The secondary electrons newly created by ionization are taken into account. The electrons are divided in groups with respect to the interval where they were created or where they made an inelastic collision. The inelastic collisions and the forward scattering are assumed to dominate. The mean energies of two neighbouring groups are taken to be different by the ionization energy or by parts of it. For the flux densities of the various electron groups a set of ordinary first order differential equations and corresponding boundary conditions are obtained and solved for He. These formulae are valid for any electric potentials. The results relatively well agree with those of Monte Carlo simulations. The first Townsend ionization coefficient differs substantially from that resulting from the Townsend formula. The velocity distribution function spatially varies and contains several groups of fast electrons. Using the detour factor the angular scattering can be included in the calculations.     

Townsend coefficient and runaway of electrons at relativistic velocities

An electron-multiplication regime at large field strengths, in which case an electron can acquire a relativistic kinetic energy over the multiplication length, is considered. It is shown that, even in such superstrong fields, the Townsend electron-multiplication mechanism is valid if the distance between the electrodes is rather large. The Townsend coefficient and the drift velocity in helium are obtained in such fields. The electron-escape curve, which separates the region of efficient electron multiplication from the region where electrons escape from the gap without undergoing multiplication, is obtained.     

The townsend coefficient and runaway of electrons in electronegative gas

We have studied the character of variation of the number of electrons formed in an electronegative gas (SF₆) under the action of an external electric field. At any value of the electric field strength E, the number of generated electrons exponentially increases with the distance from the cathode, while the average velocity and energy of electrons attain constant values. At small values of the reduced field strength, E/p<94 V/(cm Torr) (p is the gas pressure), the regime of electron attachment prevails that is characterized by negative values of the exponent (negative Townsend coefficients). For E/p>94 V/(cm Torr), the electron multiplication proceeds in the usual Townsend regime with positive exponents. In the intermediate region of E/p=40–160 V/(cm Torr), the electron multiplication coefficient exhibits a linear dependence on E/p. Numerical calculations based on a simple model show that the Townsend multiplication regime takes place even in very strong fields where the drag caused by ionization can be ignored. A universal function describing the electron runaway in SF₆ is obtained.     

On the influence of the voltage pulse rise time and cathode geometry on the generation of a supershort avalanche electron beam

The influence of the voltage pulse rise time on the amplitude of a runaway electron beam and X-ray generation in air and nitrogen under atmospheric pressure is studied experimentally and theoretically. Generalization of the whistle criterion for the case of a nonuniform field is suggested. It is shown that the maximal energy of beam electrons and the beam current amplitude grow when the voltage pulse rise time decreases. It is found that the amplitude of the runaway electron current reaches a maximum at a certain curvature of the cathode. The maximal energy of electrons increases when the radius of curvature of the cathode exceeds the value at which the beam current amplitude is the highest. If the field is nonuniform, its critical value at which many electrons run away is more than an order of magnitude lower than in the uniform field.     

Electron capture by charged impurities in semiconductors under conditions of spatial diffusion

The capture of electrons by charged impurities in semiconductors due to spatial diffusion is investigated theoretically. In a semiconductor, an electron either can be captured by the field of a charged impurity if this electron loses energy by emitting phonons or can be ionized from the trapping state if it acquires energy by absorbing phonons. The electron trapping is governed by a change in the distribution function of electrons in both coordinate and momentum space. The trapping coefficient is calculated under the condition where it is determined by the diffusion redistribution of the electron density in the field of a charged impurity.     

Eine Untersuchung der Elektronenkomponente von Elektronenlawinen im homogenen Feld II

Electron avalanches in uniform fields are studied by means of a short duration spark light source. Electron drift velocities ν_? are measured in hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and some vapours. It is shown, that in hydrogen and nitrogen the number of electrons increases exponentially by gas amplification with a time constant 1/αν_?, in accordance with a conventional assumption and with previous measurements in methane, α is the first Townsend coefficient. In oxygen and air it is, however, demonstrated that the number of electrons increases considerably less than exp (αυ_?·t), and the multiplication process takes longer time. This is evidently due to time losses of the electrons on their paths across the gap. Thus the mean time interval for successors, started by photons at the cathode, is increased. — In addition, this paper gives details of some measurements of the first Townsend coefficient α, the electron diffusion coefficient, and ionic drift velocities for certain gases.     

Runaway of electrons in dense gases and mechanism of generation of high-power subnanosecond beams

New understanding of mechanism of the runaway electrons beam generation in gases is presented. It is shown that the Townsend mechanism of the avalanche electron multiplication is valid even for the strong electric fields when the electron ionization friction on gas may be neglected. A non-local criterion for a runaway electron generation is proposed. This criterion results in the universal two-valued dependence of critical voltage U _cr on pd for a certain gas (p is a pressure, d is an interelectrode distance). This dependence subdivides a plane (U _cr , pd) onto the area of the efficient electron multiplication and the area where the electrons leave the gas gap without multiplication. On the basis of this dependence analogs of Paschen’s curves are constructed, which contain an additional new upper branch. This brunch demarcates the area of discharge and the area of e-beam. The mechanism of the formation of the recently created atomospheric pressure subnanosecond e-beams is discussed. It is shown that the beam of the runaway electrons is formed at an instant when the plasma of the discharge gap approaches to the runaway electrons is formed at an instant when the plasma of the discharge gap approaches to the anode. In this case a basic pulse of the electron beam is formed according to the non-local criterion of the runaway electrons generation. The role of the discharge gap preionization by the fast electrons, emitted from the plasma non-uniformities on the cathode, as well as a propagation of an electron multiplication wave from cathode to anode in a dense gas are considered.     

Electron capture and loss in electron swarm experiments

The effect of capture and subsequent loss of electrons upon their time distribution in time-of-flight electron swarm experiments has been investigated. It is found that if the mean release time of captured electrons is much smaller than both the drift time and the time width of the electron swarm distribution, the effective diffusion coefficientD′ is given approximately by whereD is the electron diffusion coefficient in the absence of capture,w is the drift velocity, γ is the inverse release time, β is the inverse capture time and ζ=ψ/β+γ It is shown that measurements ofw andD by the steady state Townsend method should be unaffected by temporary capture processes.     

Townsend coefficient,escape curve,and efficiency of runaway-electron beam formation in argon

The ionization and drift characteristics of electrons in argon are simulated by the method of multi-particle dynamics. It is shown that, in argon (as well as in other gases studied earlier), the Townsend regime of ionization sets in even in strong fields if the electrode distance is much larger than the reciprocal Townsend coefficient. The dependences of the basic ionization and drift characteristics on the reduced field intensity are obtained, and an escape curve is constructed separating the region of effective electron multiplication from the region where the electrons leave the discharge gap having no time to multiply. The formation efficiency of a runaway-electron beam is calculated. It is shown that the dependence of the electrode voltage generating a given fraction of runaway electrons on the product of the pressure by the electrode distance has a form that qualitatively agrees with the runaway curve. When the efficiency is not too high (≤20%), the runaway curves virtually coincide with isoefficiency curves.     

The model of internal column of hollow cathode vacuum discharge

Analyzes the characteristics of rarefied, nonequilibrium-state plasmas in the internal column of a hollow cathode discharge (HCD). The analysis is based on the theory of plasma disintegration in a strong electric field (Dreicer 1959, 1960). It is demonstrated that this process has a crucial influence upon the forming of directed flux of electrons with energy values 20-30 eV at the exit of the hollow cathode. The obtained values significantly exceed the energy of thermal motion of electrons in the plasma disintegration zone. A new method is suggested of calculating electron density and electric field intensity in respect to the axis of the internal column in the channel model of the discharge. In addition, a method is presented of calculating the length of the internal column and the energy of the directed electron flux at the exit of the hollow cathode on the basis of HCD fundamental parameters     

电子在激光驻波场中运动产生的太赫兹及X射线辐射研究

采用单电子模型和经典辐射理论分别对低能和高能电子在线偏振激光驻波场中的运动和辐射过程进行了研究. 结果表明: 垂直于激光电场方向入射的低速电子在激光驻波场中随着光强的增大, 逐渐从一维近周期运动演变为二维折叠运动, 并产生强的微米量级波长的太赫兹辐射; 高能电子垂直或者平行于激光电场方向入射到激光驻波场中, 都会产生波长在几个纳米的高频辐射; 低能电子与激光驻波场作用中, 激光强度影响着电子的运动形式、辐射频率以及辐射强度; 高能电子入射时, 激光强度影响了电子高频辐射的强度, 电子初始能量影响着辐射的频率; 电子能量越高, 产生的辐射频率越大. 研究表明可以由激光加速电子的方式得到不同能量的电子束, 并利用电子束在激光驻波场的辐射使之成为太赫兹和X射线波段的小型辐射源. 研究结果可以为实验研究和利用激光驻波场中的电子辐射提供依据.     

微空心阴极放电的流体模型模拟

采用流体模型研究了微空心阴极放电(MHCD)的特点，对放电中电场的形成，电子和离子的密度分布，电子能量分布进行了数值模拟.该计算是针对高气压，圆筒形阴极结构下的He放电.结果表明放电中存在空心阴极效应，从电子能量分布可以看出，放电中存在高能电子，放电空间的电场分布主要表现为径向电场.此外，通过改变气压，阴极孔径等参数计算出它们对放电的影响.分析表明减小孔径有利于负辉区更充分的重合.提高气压将缩短阴极位降区. 关键词： 微空心阴极放电 流体模型     

Characteristics of electron beams formed in a diode with magnetic insulation

The problems of the formation of relativistic electron beams in a cylindrical diode with an annular cathode are discussed in the approximation of an infinitely strong guiding magnetic field. The beams are treated as infinitely thin. The following cases are investigated: 1) The formation of an electron beam moving off the cathode with an initial velocity. The case in which the field on the cathode is not equal to zero is investigated. It is shown that the potential of the electron beam can be determined in a nonunique fashion in the drift region. 2) The formation of a two-velocity electron beam. The possibility of controlling the flow of kinetic energy of the beam by varying the fraction of fast electrons in it is shown. 3) The formation of an electron beam in a diode with the help of two opposed cathodes at different potentials. A strong dependence of the current in the diode on the potential difference between the cathodes is obtained.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 36–39, December, 1981.     

Influence of charge deposition in a field-emission display panel

Field-emission displays (FEDs) have been studied intensively in recent years as a candidate for flat-display panels in the future. In a FED, electrons emit from field emitters. Some electrons may impinge on the insulator surface between cathode and gate electrodes and cause charging of that surface because the yield of secondary electron emission is usually not equal to one. The charging of the insulator walls between cathode and gate electrodes is one of the important factors influencing the performance of a FED. In this paper, a simulation program is used to calculate this charge deposition, electric field distribution and electron trajectories. From the change of the electric field upon charge deposition in the triode region, it is shown that the insulator surface is negatively charged at a low gate voltage, e.g. 20 V. However, positive charge is deposited when the gate voltage is high, e.g. 100 V. The simulations also show that the emission current will increase even further after coating the dielectric with a thin film of a material with a high-secondary emission coefficient such as MgO. If a cone-shaped dielectric aperture is used in a triode, the emission current will decrease after charge deposition. However, the focus performance of the electron beam is improving in this case.     

Electrically induced Raman emission from planar spin oscillator

We predict that two-dimensional electrons confined by a magnetic field gradient resonantly transfer energy to the electromagnetic field by a process of inverse electron spin resonance that is realized when the frequency of an open orbit equals the Larmor frequency. The calculated emission spectra show multiple peaks modulated by strong optical nonlinearities whose frequencies may be tuned by the magnetic field gradient and the electron concentration.     

Separator of primary and signal electrons for very low energy SEM

High resolution can be obtained in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) for a very low landing energy of electrons, even for that below 50 eV, when a cathode lens is used with the specimen as a cathode held at a high negative potential but the detection of signal electrons is totally different compared with classical SEM. Primary electrons with an energy of the order of tens of keV are decelerated in the field of the cathode lens to a very low landing energy and signal electrons originating in the specimen are accelerated and collimated by the same field to a narrow beam with an electron energy nearly the same as that of the primary beam. To detect these signal electrons we must deflect them from the optical axis without deteriorating the properties of the primary beam. The design of a novel type of separator of the primary and signal electrons consisting of two stages, each of them formed by the electric and magnetic crossed fields, is presented, together with calculated trajectories for both primary and signal electrons.Presented at the Seminar on Secondary Electrons in Electron Spectroscopy, Microscopy, and Microanalysis, Chlum (The Czech Republic), 21–24 September 1993.For computations of fields and trajectories, the software package of the Delft Particle Optics Foundation developed by Dr. B. Lencová and Dr. G. Wisselink [10] was used. The design was consulted with Dr. M. Lenc.     

Der Einfluß metastabiler Atome auf den statischen Durchschlag in Argon

A gas discharge in argon is initiated by an ultraviolet light pulse which releases 10⁵ electrons at the cathode within 20 nsec. The time of built-up for the static breakdown is found to be in the order of msec. The oscillogram of the current near breakdown shows a fast component consisting of several successive avalanches caused by secondary electrons liberated by ions at the cathode and a slow component which is due to the electrons liberated by metastable atoms at the cathode. The second Townsend coefficient for argon ions and a nickel cathode is determined to beγ ₊= 2.5·10^?3. The amount of electrons liberated by metastables at static breakdown is 25% of the total number of secondary electrons. The mean life-time of the metastables at 1,1 Torr and an electrode separation of 10 mm is found to be 2.2 msec, which is mainly due to de-exciting collisions at the electrodes.