Emission properties of a plasma cathode based on a glow discharge for generating nanosecond electron beams

The emission properties of a plasma cathode based on a nanosecond pulsed glow discharge with currents of up to 200A at a pressure of 5×10⁻² Pa are studied experimentally. Stable ignition and burning of the discharge are ensured if the current in the auxiliary pulsed discharge is 25–30% of that in the main discharge and its pulse duration exceeds that of the main discharge by more than an order of magnitude. Emission current pulses from the cathode with amplitudes of up to 140A fully reproduce the discharge current and are determined by the transparency of the grid anode. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 62–65 (November 1999)     

Wide-aperture high-current electron beam in a discharge with cathode plasma at elevated pressure

This work pursues investigations into the discharge with a cathode plasma in a cavity one wall of which is an insulating plate with a hole D in diameter (the cavity is 0.5 or 1.5 mm wide). This discharge is thoroughly analyzed in comparison with the high-voltage hollow-cathode discharge. Owing to the reduced emission of electrons from the cathode plasma, the discharge becomes more stable against transition to the low-voltage form, as a result of which an electron beam can be generated under higher gas pressures. Such a beam formed at the entrance to the cavity is used as an auxiliary one that propagates over the remaining (flat) surface of the cathode and adds to the gas ionization. Accordingly, the beam current from the main discharge to the anode rises (high-current regime). Wide-aperture (D = 22 mm) ≈1-μs-long pulsed beams with a current an order of magnitude higher than the total current of the equivalent anomalous discharge are obtained. Experiments are carried out at a helium pressure to 20 Torr and a voltage from 1 to 20 kV.     

Generation of high-energy electrons in a transverse slot-cathode nanosecond discharge at working gas medium pressures

Experimental data for the electrical and optical characteristics of a transverse slot-cathode nanosecond discharge are reported. The discharge is initiated in He at a discharge current of 1–500 A and a working gas pressure in a discharge chamber ranging from 10² to 10⁴ Pa. It is shown that the cathode current density is much (several orders of magnitude) higher than the total current density of an equivalent abnormal discharge. The electrical characteristics of an open discharge and a discharge confined by dielectric walls are found to differ considerably. Electrons passing through the cathode fall region acquire a high energy (on the order of 1 keV) under the given conditions. The fast electron relaxation conditions correlate with the initiation and evolution of the discharge. A pattern of the discharge evolution is derived from experimental data. A way of estimating the coefficient of electron emission from the cathode plasma is suggested.     

Intense emission from a grid-stabilized plasma cathode

Intense emission from a grid-stabilized plasma cathode based on a glow discharge with an expanded anode area is studied. In the electrode system of the ion source, the potential difference between a large-mesh grid electrode (a hole diameter of 4–6 mm) and cathode and anode plasma reaches 200 V and the glow discharge current is up to 1 A. The current distribution over the electrodes of the plasma cathode is taken, and the dependences of the electron extraction efficiency and electron-emitting-plasma potential on the gas pressure and discharge parameters are obtained. A relationship between the geometric parameters of the grid, cathode plasma potential, and efficiency of electron extraction from the plasma is derived. It is shown that stable intense emission from the plasma cathode can be provided in wide ranges of gas pressure and discharge current by varying the geometry and mesh size of the plasma cathode grid. Discharge contraction in the grid plane at elevated gas pressures is explained. It is assumed that the emitting plasma becomes inhomogeneous due to variation in the thickness of near-electrode layers in the holes of the grid, which makes the distribution of the emission current from the plasma more nonuniform.     

The pumping discharge for XeCl lasers

This paper presents the results of experimental studies on the homogeneity of a discharge in aNe−Xe−HCl gas mixture at a pressure of 2 atm in relation to the discharge current density, the cathode material (Al, Cu, Ti), and the mode of preconditioning of the cathode. With freshCu electrodes, a discharge of current density j∼50 A/cm² with no cathode spot has been generated. Upon prolonged preconditioning ofAl andCu electrodes, a homogeneous discharge with j>100 A/cm² and a high density of cathode spots has been realized. The results of numerical calculations based on a plasma model which allows for more than 300 plasma chemical reactions agree well with experiment. The plasma particle densities and the rates of death and birth of charged species are presented as functions of time. The physical processes occurring in the discharge plasma are analyzed. Institute of High-Current Electronics, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 5, pp. 76–86, April, 2000.     

Microhollow cathode sustained discharges: comparative studies in micro- and equivalent macro-cell geometries

We present an experimental study of discharge initiation in a three-electrode configuration consisting of a microhollow cathode discharge (MHCD) and a third planar electrode, biased positively and placed some distance away. This work is based on the microcathode sustained (MCS) configuration where the MHCD acts as a plasma cathode and enables the generation of a stable, non-equilibrium plasma at high pressure in the volume between the MHCD and the third electrode. Our experiments were carried out in two different set-ups, one using a MHCD as a cathode and another in an “equivalent” macrocell geometry, easier to implement and operating at lower pressure in which the same phenomena are observed. Consistent with previous modeling results, we find that the plasma column in the volume between the MHCD and the third electrode is characterized by a low reduced electric field, with values similar to those expected for a positive column. The ignition voltage of the plasma column depends on the voltage difference between the MHCD and the third electrode, the MHCD current, and the gas pressure and gap spacing.     

Parameters of the discharge plasmas of surface-plasma sources of negative hydrogen ions

The main parameters of the plasma of high-current hydrogen-cesium glow discharges of surface-plasma (planotron and Penning) sources of negative hydrogen ions are determined using contact-free spectroscopic methods and compared for identical discharge current densities. The elemental and charge composition of the plasma is established. The temperature of the hydrogen atoms and the energy of the visible-range radiation of the plasma discharge are measured and estimates of the electron density in the plasma are made. The dynamics of the change in the parameters of the discharge plasma of a Penning source — the densities of hydrogen atoms, cesium atoms and ions, and molybdenum atoms — is tracked during a discharge pulse with spatial resolution along two coordinates. It is observed that cesium atoms and ions and molybdenum atoms are pent up near the cathode surface. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 32–38 (October 1998)     

An experimental study of the dependence on the current intensity ofthe erosion of thoriated tungsten cathodes in plasma arcs

The erosion occurring in thoriated tungsten cathodes used in transferred plasma torches operating with current intensities ranging from 30 to 210 A has been experimentally investigated. The cathode erosion rate was determined by measuring the cathode's weight loss after arcing, and the eroded cathode surface was explored by a scanning electron microscope and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. It has been discovered that a critical current intensity, I_CR ~ 50 A, exists for which the cathode erosion rate becomes maximum     

Bipolar atmospheric-pressure corona discharge in a He/H2 mixture

Results are presented from a study of the characteristics of a steady-state plasma in a He/H₂ mixture at high pressures. The plasma is formed in the outer region of a multielectrode corona discharge. It is shown that molecules of helium hydride form in such a medium, and their decomposition is accompanied by continuum emission in the 350–650 nm region. The corona discharge is distributed over the length and can be used in systems for the transverse electric circulation of the working medium of atmospheric-pressure plasma radiation sources. The reference spectra of the plasma emission and the dependence of the relative intensity of the lines and the brightness of the bands of He ₂ ^* on the value of the discharge current, pressure, and composition of the working mixture are investigated. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 33–37 (July 1999)     

Operational characteristics of a plasma cathode with a grid stabilization in a two-stage ion source

The discharge characteristics and the parameters of the cathode plasma in a two-stage ion source with a grid plasma cathode and a magnetic trap in the anode region are investigated. It is shown that an increase in the gas pressure and the accompanying increase in the reverse ion current in the bipolar diode between the cathode and anode plasmas lead to an increase in the cathode plasma potential and a transition of the cathode into the regime of electron emission from the open plasma boundary. The dependence of the ion current extracted from the anode plasma on the area of the exit aperture of the hollow cathode and the mesh size of the grid plasma cathode is explained. The conditions at which the ion emission current from the anode plasma is maximum are determined. The potential difference at the bipolar diode is measured by using the probe method. It is shown that, when the gas pressures reaches a critical value determined by the mesh size of the grid plasma cathode, the discharge passes into a contracted operating mode, in which the ion current extracted from the anode plasma decreases severalfold.     

Experimental investigation of the anode region of a free-burning atmospheric-pressure inert-gas arc I. General characteristics of the discharge. Low-current regime

This paper reports the experimental investigation of the anode region of a free-burning inert-gas arc at atmospheric pressure in the current range from a few amperes to hundreds of amperes. The tungsten thermionic-emission cathode and the large-diameter water-cooled copper anode that were used permitted the anode arc root to assume its natural form. The general characteristics of the discharge are given and results are presented from investigations of the anode region at low currents, where the anode arc root is single and constricted, but erosion-free. Measurements of the plasma parameters as well as the current density in the arc root are reported, and a comparison is made between the values obtained and those characteristic of the region of the cathode arc root. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 35–40 (January 1997)     

Peculiarities of grid control over the current in a discharge with a cathode spot on the cesium liquid-metal cathode

We report on the results of successful implementation of full grid control in a cesium discharge with a cathode spot. The discharge is quenched by a negative grid pulse for a discharge current density up to 75 A/cm² in the grid plane for voltage switching up to 100 V in the pressure range 0.5–1.5 Pa for a voltage drop of 5–6 V in the discharge. It is shown that quenching is the break-off type. The discovered effect of “evacuation” of the heavy component (ions) from the grid-anode gap to the cathode region leads to an unusually long (hundreds of microseconds) time of stabilization of the steady state in the discharge under the experimental conditions.     

Analysis of a hollow-cathode reflex discharge in a hydrocarbon flow

Variation of parameters of a reflex discharge with a hollow cathode operating continuously in propane with a flow rate of 1.3–5.6 (m³ mPa)/s and a discharge current of 0.1–0.4 A is analyzed. It is shown that for a hydrocarbon flow rate of 2.4 (m³ mPa)/s and higher, an increase in the discharge voltage takes place after a time interval depending on the discharge current and gas pressure; this is explained by the formation of coating of the dissociation products of hydrocarbon molecules on the electrodes of the discharge chamber. An increase in the thickness of the carbon coating of the cathodes with time and their charging with ions lead to electric breakdown of coatings and the formation of cathode spots. The oscillograms of the discharge current and voltage indicate a short-term transformation of the glow discharge into the arc discharge. The energy spectra of ions emerging from the discharge are measured, and the effect of the discharge current and the gas flow rate on the energy spread of ions is analyzed. The operation time of the discharge in hydrocarbon after which the cleaning of the discharge chamber is required is determined. The possibility of using an ion source based on the reflex discharge with a hollow cathode for technological purposes is established.     

Localization of plasma in the extended hollow cathode of a ribbon-electron-beam plasma source at forevacuum pressures

The results of a study of the plasma density distribution in the slit aperture of a right-angled extended hollow cathode used in a ribbon-electron-beam plasma source operating at forevacuum pressures (1–10 Pa) are presented. It is shown that a local peak of plasma density appears in some region of the slit aperture as the slit width is decreased. This results in the appearance of a region of increased current density when the ribbon beam forms. The uniformity of the beam current density distribution is additionally disturbed by the reverse ion flow whose effect on the emission properties of the plasma is significant in the region of elevated pressure. A model which describes the development of plasma density nonuniformity in a hollow cathode is proposed which is based on the idea that the electron current flows predominantly through the slit aperture regions that are associated with local openings of the cathode layer ion sheaths. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 3–9, June, 2007.     

Effect of Cathode and Anode Voltage on an Ion Sheath Thickness in a Magnetically Confined Diffusion Plasma

This article reports about the ion sheath thickness variation occurring in front of a negatively biased plate immersed in the target plasma region of a double plasma device. The target plasma is produced due to the local ionization of neutral gas by the high energetic electrons coming from the source region (main discharge region). It is observed that for an increase in cathode voltage (filament bias voltage) in the source region, the ion flux into the plate increases. As a result, the sheath at the plate contracts. Again, for an increase in source anode voltage (magnetic cage bias), the ion flux to the plate decreases. As a result, the sheath expands at the plate. The ion sheath formed at the separation grid of the device is found to expand for an increase in cathode voltage and it contracts for an increase in the anode voltage of the main discharge region. One important observation is that the applied anode bias can control the Bohm speed of the ions towards the separation grid. Furthermore, it is observed that the ion current collected by the separation grid is independent of changes in plasma density in the diffusion region but is highly dependent on the source plasma parameters. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Generation of a pulsed high-current low-energy beam in a plasma electron source with a self-heated cathode

The transition of a low-current discharge with a self-heated hollow cathode to a high-current discharge is studied, and stability conditions for the latter in the pulsed–periodic mode with a current of 0.1–1.0 kA, pulse width of 0.1–1.0 ms, and a pulse repetition rate of 0.1–1.0 kHz are determined. The thermal conditions of the hollow cathode are analyzed, and the conclusion is drawn that the emission current high density is due to pulsed self-heating of the cathode’s surface layer. Conditions for stable emission from a plasma cathode with a grid acting as a plasma boundary using such a discharge are found at low accelerating voltage (100–200 eV) and a gas pressure of 0.1–0.4 Pa. The density of the ion current from a plasma generated by a pulsed beam with a current of 100 A is found to reach 0.1 A/cm². Probe diagnostics data for the emitting and beam plasmas in the electron source are presented, and a mechanism behind the instability of electron emission from the plasma is suggested on their basis.     

Repetitively pulsed CO2 laser driven by an electron accelerator with a gas-discharge plasma cathode

A repetitively pulsed electron-beam-controlled CO₂ laser driven by an electron accelerator with a plasma electron emitter based on low-pressure glow discharge with hollow anode and cathode is presented. The application of the proposed emitter makes it possible to sharply increase the current and to control the electron-beam duration and, hence, the energy and time characteristics of the laser. It is demonstrated that the radiation pulse duration ranges from 300 to 1200 μs, whereas the radiation energy amounts to 200 J at an efficiency of 18%. In the course of lasing, the focal spot is not affected by the heterogeneous heating of the active medium. A significant heterogeneity in the gas flow upon an incomplete renewal of the gas in the zone filled with radiation leads to an increase in the focal spot owing to the wavefront distortions. Original Text ? Astro, Ltd., 2006.     

Laser absorption and fluorescence diagnostics of a plasma

Diagnostics of a near-surface laser plasma, the plasma of a strong-current pulse gaseous discharge in inert gases, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide under conditions of intense evaporation of the wall of the discharge chamber, the plasma of a discharge with a hollow cathode, and the active medium of an excimer laser was conducted by methods of intracavity laser spectroscopy and laser-induced fluorescence. The dynamic fields and absolute concentrations of atoms, ions, molecules and electrons, the plasma temperature, and the velocities of flows of particles were measured. The quantitative determination of the density of particles in the erosion laser flame prior to breakdown and the phenomena associated with the formation of molecules in the laser plasma received primary consideration. To whom correspondence should be addressd. Instite of Molecular and Atomic Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 3, pp. 281–290, May–June, 1997.     

On the initiation of a spark discharge upon the breakdown of nitrogen and air in a nonuniform electric field

Switchover from a runaway-electromnduced volume discharge to a spark is studied when a nanosecond discharge is initiated in high-pressure nitrogen an d air at a voltage of 50–250 kV. In the case of a cathode with a small radius of curvature and a flat anode and in the presence of cathode spots, the leader of the spark channel may propagate from the flat cathode. When the rate of rise of the voltage across centimeterwide gaps is high (dU/dt ∼ 10¹⁵ V/s or higher), cathode spots in the case of a corona discharge emerge within 200 ps.     

Simulation study of a capacitively coupled plasma torch array

Using capacitively coupled electrical discharges, an array of three plasma torches powered by a single 60-Hz source are lit up simultaneously to produce a dense plasma in the open air. The discharge voltage and current of each torch is measured for three cases of one to three torches being lit up in the array. The results determine the ν-i characteristic of the discharge which indicates that the torch is operating in a diffuse are mode. The torch array is modeled by an equivalent circuit for simulating its operation. The simulation results of the discharge voltage and current of a torch are shown to agree well with those from the experimental measurements for the three cases. The lump circuit model is then used to carry out numerical simulations of the discharge for a broad parameter space of plasma species. By fitting the simulation results, a function giving the parametric dependence of the consumed average power density 〈P〉 on the normalized average electron density 〈n_e〉 maintained in the plasma is determined to be 〈P〉 48 〈n_e〉 ^1.9α_^0.4(W/cm³), where 〈n_e〉 is normalized to 10¹³cm^-3 and α_, the electron-ion recombination coefficient normalized to 10^-7 cm³·s^-1, is used as a variable parameter in the simulation