Study of the contributions of the electrode materials to the plasma of a high-current vacuum spark

Abstract

The contribution of the electrode material to the formation of the plasma of a low inductive high current vacuum spark and its influence on the process of discharge micropinching were studied using X ray spectroscopy and laser diagnostics. Electrode system configurations are determined in which the contribu tions of the materials of both electrodes to the plasma emitting X rays are comparable and in which the con tribution of one electrode is dominating. It is found that discharge pinching occurs primarily in the vapor of the pointed electrode independently of its polarity. The experimental results indicate the formation of a suprathermal electron beam in the micropinch region.

Spectropolarimetric investigations of nonthermal electron beams in vacuum spark discharge

“…We believe that the low energy of electrons in the axial beam was related to the inverse polarity of the voltage applied to electrodes. It has been previously shown [8] that this leads to decrease in the efficiency of pinching in high current low inductance vacuum spark and, hence, in the mag nitude of axial electric field.…”