The Features of Intense Electron Flow Impact on Metal Hydride Electrode

Abstract

The features of generation of a shielding plasma layer by a Zr50V50 metal hydride surface which prevents the sample from melting have been studied. The sample was interacting with an electron beam formed directly by the metal hydride. The electron beam was emitted from primary plasma generated by an additional discharge with a filament cathode and accelerated in the space charge layer at the front of the shielding plasma, which is formed on hydrogen desorbed from metal hydride or on the sample material in case of the depletion of stored hydrogen. Three different stages of the formation of shielding plasma layer have been identified depending on the ratio between the current to the metal hydride IMH and the current of the primary plasma source Id. When IMH/Id < 1 the classical conditions for charged particles transfer are realized. At IMH/Id > 1 the classical conditions for the transfer of charged particles are violated and double layer appears at the front of the shielding plasma, which ensures the efficient energy transfer from external electrical field to the energy of bipolar motion of charged particles.