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     

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     

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     

Microscopic high speed investigations of vacuum arc cathode spots

The main parameters and dimensions of cathode spots have been under discussion for years. To solve these current questions, a new system was specially designed. The image converting high speed framing camera (HSFC) combines a micrometer lateral resolution with a nanosecond time resolution and a very high optical sensitivity. This camera was used to study the microscopic behavior of vacuum arc cathode spots in a pulsed high current arc discharge on copper. The direct observation of these spots with high resolution revealed that one single cathode spot, as normally observed by optical means, consists of a number of simultaneously existing microscopic subspots, each with a diameter of about 10 μm and a mean distance of 30-50 μm between them. The mean existence time of these subspots on copper was found to be about 3 μs, where the position of a subspot remains unchanged (with an upper limit of about 5 μm) during its existence time. The lower limit of the current density in the cathode spots was estimated to be on the order of 10¹⁰-10¹¹ A/m². An upper limit of the crater surface temperature was estimated by a comparison between the brightnesses of a cathode spot and of a black body radiation lamp to about 3000 K     

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     

移动地面站宽温度跟瞄系统信标接收镜头

为了保证移动地面站光电跟瞄系统在野外复杂环境下具有稳定的跟踪精度,针对-20~40℃宽工作温度范围下信标接收镜头成像光斑弥散的问题,进行了光学系统与光机结构的设计,提出了一种以步进电机驱动补偿镜组的温度补偿方案。分析了极限温度条件下光学系统性能的改变以及不同温度补偿方案的效果,针对光电跟瞄系统的指标要求,设计了光机结构并进行了力学、光学性能的分析。分析结果表明,系统一阶模态为370 Hz;补偿镜组向前移动0.695 mm能够补偿-20℃时光学系统成像光斑的弥散,令中心视场光斑尺寸由73μm降为3.2μm,边缘视场光斑尺寸由77μm降为15.7μm;向后移动0.885 6 mm能够补偿40℃时成像光斑的弥散,令中心视场光斑尺寸由94μm降为3.9μm,边缘视场光斑尺寸由96μm降为21.8μm;使用ZYGO干涉仪对光学系统的像质进行检测,波像差RMS值(均方根值)为0.061λ(λ=632.8 nm),PV值(峰谷值)为0.466λ,能够满足跟瞄系统指标要求。     

Photographic appearance of high-current vacuum arcs prior to and during anode spot formation

This article presents the results of research on the photographic appearance of a highcurrent vacuum arc between butt type copper electrodes a of 30–80 mm diameter and a fixed gap of 10 mm. Current pulses of up to 30 kA peak amplitude at an initial value of (di/dt)₀ from 1–10kA/ms and a duration of approximately 14 ms were applied. Arcs were photographed with a high-speed framing camera, mostly at 10⁴ frames/s. A detailed study of discharge modes in phase transition from a high-current diffuse arc to a constricted arc with an anode spot was conducted. Most of the measurements were obtained at a peak current slightly in excess of 10 kA for electrodes of 55 mm diameter. It was found that at peak current exceeding moderately the threshold value of the onset of anode spot formation, the arc is characterized by the following main features: the formation of an anode spot and an anode plasma jet occurs concurrently with a local concentration of cathode spots; the anode spot is, most often, formed on the electrode edge; the coexistence of very varied structures of spots on the cathode; the lack of considerable constriction of the cathode discharge; the pseudo-periodic shrinking and expansion of the area occupied by cathode spots; the existence of a relatively dark space separates the anode plasma jet from the plasma sheath near the cathode surface; the plasma space distribution in the interelectrode gap is non-uniform and non-stationary.This work was supported by State Committee for Scientific Research within the research project No. 3 P40101507.     

非球面液滴微透镜固化控制和焦斑测量研究

利用电场改变液滴透镜的面形得到非球面,并实时检测其面形和焦斑图像,在适当的时候用紫外光固化液滴制作具有良好光学性能的非球面微透镜.比较了非球面液滴微透镜在固化前后面形、焦斑的变化和对透镜性能的影响,讨论了液滴透镜在固化过程中变形的机理和相应的解决方法.用分辨率50 nm的光斑探针扫描仪精确测量了固化后的非球面微透镜的聚焦光斑,测得了光斑轴向分布曲线和均方根直径3.384μm的聚焦光斑,经图像处理计算了透镜的点扩散函数和光学传递函数,评价了所制作的非球面微透镜的聚光和成像能力,并给出了透镜的实际成像图像,对于完善高品质非球面微透镜及其阵列的制作工艺具有重要意义.     

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.     

On the Retrograde Motion of Arcs in Magnetic Fields

Experiments are reported which allow the determination of retrograde velocity of individual cathode spots and of the plasma flow in a pulsed discharge using various metals and carbon as cathode materials. For discharge currents from 10 to 40 amps, pressures of 3 mmHg and magnetic field strengths of 6.103G retrograde spot velocities from 30 to approximately 300 m/sec are observed and the corresponding plasma flow velocities are in the range from 4,400 to 8,600 m/sec. On cathode materials with low melting points, the splitting rate of spots and the motion of individual spots is small, whereas under identical conditions the spots on refractory materials are highly mobile, the splitting rate is large, and the lifetime of individual spots is short.     

The plasma in high-current pseudospark switches

The discharge behavior and the erosion rate of pseudospark switches for high currents (50-150 kA) and pulse lengths of several microseconds were investigated for different electrode materials. A capacitor discharge (3.3 μF) without any load was used at a maximum voltage of 30 kV. Side-on optical investigations were performed either with a streak camera or a fast shutter camera. Using metal electrodes, the discharge ignites on axis, then widens up radially and burns homogeneously at the edge of the central apertures. After about 500 ns, a stable anode spot is observed on the plane electrode surface (at currents exceeding 45 kA), the location of which is statistical. The discharge is transformed to a metal vapor are discharge and the erosion rate increases by more than one order of magnitude. With semiconductor electrodes (i.e., silicon carbide), a different discharge behavior is observed, After ignition on axis, the discharge burns homogeneously on the whole carbide surface. No contraction to a small area occurs in comparison to metal electrodes. The reignition of later current half cycles starts at the triple point metal-carbide-gas. Then the discharge again spreads homogeneously over the total carbide surface. The erosion rate is about two magnitudes lower in comparison to metals. We assume that the current is conducted in a thin surface sheath which is heated to more than 2000 K     

Investigations of the ignition of arc spots on cold cathodes in anoble gas atmosphere

To investigate the ignition of arc spots on cold cathodes under defined conditions, a special experimental setup was developed. An arc ignited between horn electrodes in a pure argon gas atmosphere is blown magnetically against a third so called commutation electrode, which is negatively biased against the arc plasma. The ignition of arc spots on this cathode was investigated by electrical measurements and high-speed photography. The arc traces of short current pulses were examined by in situ optical microscopy of the cathode surface. Two different modes of arc-spot ignition were observed: an initiation by a diffuse glow discharge, which may pass into a constricted arc spot, and an immediate formation of a constricted arc spot. The two modes of arc-spot ignition at atmospheric pressure were attributed to different surface structures, which are characterized by broad or narrow distributions of local ion current density enhancement factors. Ion current density enhancement may raise the field strength and temperature on the tips of microprotrusions so far that they emit electrons. A sufficiently high density of small emission sites produces locally such a high average current density that a plasma channel and an arc spot on the cathode surface arc formed. With lower pressure, the influence of the surface structure is reduced and pushed back by Townsend-γ emission     

Electromagnetic Excitation of the Discharge and Optical Absorption in Sulfur Vapor

The light emission spectra of a discharge excited by the high-frequency and microwave radiation sources in mixtures of sulfur with buffer gas (argon or neon) were experimentally studied. Various stages of changing the characteristic spectra in the process of discharge development were revealed. The temperature dependences of the absorption spectra of sulfur saturated vapor were measured up to 1000 K. A linear shift of the absorption line from the violet to the green region with temperature was found. The absorptivity rises steeply and reaches of 3 cm^-1 at T=1000 K. The analysis shows that the same temperature dependence is observed for the maximum of the emission line. The filtering of light by colder sulfur vapor in the vicinity of the walls is supposedly responsible for the increase in the optical absorption at shorter wavelength. This explains the nontrivial increase in the wavelength of maximum of the spectral radiant intensity with temperature.     

Preparation of patterned boron nanowire films with different widths of unit-cell and their field emission properties

Large-area patterned films of boron nanowires(BNWs) are fabricated at various densities by chemical vapor deposition(CVD). Different widths of unit-cell of Mo masks are used as templates. The widths of unit-cell of Mo masks are100 μm, 150 μm, and 200 μm, respectively. The distance between unit cells is 50 μm. The BNWs have an average diameter of about 20 nm and lengths of 10 μm–20 μm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis shows that each nanowire has a β-tetragonal structure with good crystallization. Field emission measurements of the BNW films show that their turn-on electric fields decrease with width of unit-cell increasing.     

强光一号兆安电流钨丝X箍缩实验研究

为了获得更高亮度的X射线点源,在"强光一号"装置上开展钨丝X箍缩实验研究.基于能量平衡方程,估算了1 MA电流热斑等离子体平衡半径为1—10μm.实验中,测试钨丝直径为25—100μm,丝根数为2—48,负载线质量为0.18—6.9 mg/cm;负载电流峰值为1—1.4 MA,10%—90%前沿为60—70 ns."强光一号"装置上匹配的X箍缩负载为30或32根25μm钨丝X箍缩,这种负载一定概率产生单个脉冲X射线辐射,辐射时刻位于电流峰值附近,典型参数为keV X射线脉宽1 ns,辐射功率35 GW,产额40 J,热斑尺寸～30μm.然而,兆安电流X箍缩通常产生多个热斑及多个脉冲X射线辐射.keV能段首个脉冲X射线辐射时刻与负载线质量正相关,并受到负载丝直径的影响.多个X射线脉冲可能由二次箍缩和局部箍缩产生,多个热斑可能由交叉点处微Z箍缩的长波长扰动和短波长扰动引起.与百千安电流X箍缩相比,兆安电流X箍缩热斑亮度更高,但X射线辐射脉冲的单一稳定性还有待于进一步改善.     

Properties of Anchored Cathode Spots of a Dc Mercury Vacuum Arc

Ensembles of anchored cathode spots of a dc mercury vacuum arc have been studied by fast framing and streak photography. From these photographs, several statistical properties of the cathode spots have been determined: distribution functions for their diameters, velocities, and displacements, as well as spot shape and average values for the spot current and its density. The measurements showed that the anchored cathode spots were quasi-stationary. No indications of a microstructure within the individual cathode spots were found at an optical resolution of 0.37 ?m. Strong evidence is presented that the dc cathode spot parameter values reported here are typical for a clean mercury surface, and that those reported in the earlier literature are typical for impurity-covered surfaces.     

Arc Cathode Processes in the Transition Region between Vacuum Arcs and Gaseous Arcs

The cathode processes of electric ares on cleaned Cu cathodes were investigated in the transition region between vacuum and atmospheric pressure (argon). The plasma density in the cathode plane was estimated by probe measurements to be n = r are current, r – distance from the spot). It was observed that several cathode spot parameters have an extremum at p ～ 10⁴ Pa. The crater diameter has a minimum independently of the cathode temperature. The diffusion constant of the chaotic motion determined by framing photographs was found to have a maximum. Some additional, large displacements occurred at that pressure. The diameter of the bright plasma cloud obtained by open-shutter photographs showed a maximum, the current per spot was found to decrease from 20 A in vacuum to 10 A at atmospheric pressure. It is thus concluded that the spot with the smallest crater radius and a low current per spot, occurring at ～ 10⁴ Pa, represents the single spot, whereas the spot at higher pressures, and probably also in vacuum, has a complicated nature where the large craters are formed by a cooperation of single spots.     

Absorption and emission line profile coefficients of multilevel atoms—II. Velocity-averaged profile coefficients

Starting from the atomic profile coefficients of a multilevel atom derived in the previous first part of this paper, we consider the velocity-averaged line profile coefficients appearing in the radiative transfer equation for the important special case that the velocity distribution of atoms in the ground state is Maxwellian and that the streaming of excited atoms is negligible. Elastic velocity-changing collisions of excited atoms with other particles are taken into account in the framework of a strong-collision model. Neglecting stimulated emissions, we obtain explicit, albeit in some cases approximate, expressions for the line profile coefficients of a three-level atom in terms of the specific radiation intensity locally present. The emission and absorption profile coefficients are written in a form that exhibits the various physical effects responsible for deviations of these profiles from complete redistribution. The case of two-level atoms in the presence of elastic collisions with the excited atoms is also treated.     

介质阻挡放电中亮暗点超六边形斑图的光谱研究

采用双水电极介质阻挡放电装置,在空气和氩气的混合气体中,首次研究了由中心亮点和暗点组成的亮暗点超六边形斑图。通过观察斑图照片,可以发现暗点位于周围其他三个亮点的质心处,并且亮点和暗点的亮度有所不同,这说明亮点和暗点的等离子体状态可能不同。利用发射光谱法,研究了亮暗点超六边形斑图中亮点和暗点的等离子体参量随氩气含量的变化趋势。首先通过采集氮分子（N₂）第二正带系(C3Π_u→B3Π_g)发射谱线,计算出了亮点和暗点的分子振动温度; 之后利用氮分子离子391.4 nm和氮分子394.1 nm两条发射谱线的相对强度之比,得到了此斑图中亮点和暗点的电子平均能量; 最后通过氩原子696.57 nm（2P₂→1S₅）谱线的展宽,研究了此斑图中亮点和暗点的电子密度。实验结果发现： 在同一氩气含量下,亮暗点超六边形斑图中暗点的分子振动温度、电子平均能量和电子密度均高于亮点的相应等离子体参量; 保持其他实验参数不变,随着氩气含量从70%变化到95%,亮点和暗点的分子振动温度和电子密度均是逐渐增大的,而电子平均能量则是逐渐减小的。亮点和暗点的等离子状态的不同,说明二者的放电机制可能不同。进一步采用高速录像机对斑图进行短曝光拍摄,发现亮点存在沿面放电,这些沿面放电交汇形成暗点。     

Coherent Forward Scattering Spectrometer as a Wavelength Tuning Indicator for Diode Laser Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A coherent forward scattering spectrometer was used as a wavelength tuning indicator for diode laser atomic absorption spectrometry. Atomic absorption transition of excited argon atoms at 842.46 nm was investigated. Argon atoms were excited in a glow discharge. Coherent forward scattering signal attained maximum at 0.1 T of external magnetic field and at 12 mA discharge current in 266 Pa (2 Torr) of argon. When the lasing wavelength crossed an atomic absorption line, a spike-like signal was observed. When a continuous coherent forward scattering signal was observed, the lasing wavelength was confirmed to approach within about ±3 pm from the absorption transition of argon.