Initiation of ecton processes by interaction of a plasma with a microprotrusion on a metal surface

On the mechanism of operation of a cathode spot cell in a vacuum arc

“…During the first stage, the protrusion is heated by the plasma ions, whereas during the second stage, which begins as the surface temperature approaches the melting point of tungsten (3500-4000 K), resistive heating becomes substantial as the emission current increases with temperature. 11,12 At this stage, the emission current density at the liquid-metal protrusion reaches $10 8 A/cm 2 . The current density at the jet base, j b , will be geometrically enhanced by a factor of S s /S b , where S s is the surface area of the jet and S b is its base area.…”

A review comparing cathodic arcs and high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS)

“…The lower limit of the length scale is found from the smallest macroparticles and crater sizes [118,119]. The ignition of cathode spots has much in common with high voltage electrical breakdown [92,120]. Both are based on high electrical field strength on the surface.…”

Ignition and sustainment of the explosive electron emission cyclic pulses — Ectons by plasma-surface interaction

“…Numerical modeling has been performed for the plasma action onto the wall having a microprotrusion with taking into account the thermo-field-emission, 2D thermal balance, heating by incident plasma, sheath properties, see [8][9].…”

“…It has been found that for the ignition of the explosive electron emission at a 'clean' surface by the plasma action it is sufficient to exceed the energy flux threshold being of about 100 MW/cm 2 [8]. Such a large intensity provides the explosive overheating of the surface by an emission current.…”