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From Field Emission to Vacuum Arc Ignition: A New Tool for Simulating Copper Vacuum Arcs
Author(s) -
Timko H.,
Ness Sjobak K.,
Mether L.,
Calatroni S.,
Djurabekova F.,
Matyash K.,
Nordlund K.,
Schneider R.,
Wuensch W.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
contributions to plasma physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1521-3986
pISSN - 0863-1042
DOI - 10.1002/ctpp.201400069
Subject(s) - vacuum arc , cathode , plasma , common emitter , ignition system , electric arc , materials science , current (fluid) , arc (geometry) , field electron emission , copper , mechanics , electrode , atomic physics , physics , optoelectronics , electron , chemistry , thermodynamics , mechanical engineering , metallurgy , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Understanding plasma initiation in vacuum arc discharges can help to bridge the gap between nano‐scale triggering phenomena and the macroscopic surface damage caused by vacuum arcs. We present a new twodimensional particle‐in‐cell tool to simulate plasma initiation in direct‐current (DC) copper vacuum arc discharges starting from a single, strong field emitter at the cathode. Our simulations describe in detail how a sub‐micron field emission site can evolve to a macroscopic vacuum arc discharge, and provide a possible explanation for why and how cathode spots can spread on the cathode surface. Furthermore, the model provides us with a prediction for the current and voltage characteristics, as well as for properties of the plasma like densities, fluxes and electric potentials in a simple DC discharge case, which are in agreement with the known experimental values. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)