A simple model of a glow discharge electron beam for materials processing

Author

Etcheverry, Javier Ignacio ; Mingolo, Nélida ; Rocca, Jorge J. ; Martínez, Oscar Eduardo

Author_Institution

Fac. de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires Univ., Argentina

Volume

25

Issue

3

fYear

1997

fDate

6/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

427

Lastpage

432

Abstract

A simple semiempirical model of the electron beam generated by a pulsed cold cathode electron gun has been developed. The model describes analytically the observed self-focusing of the discharge and predicts the dynamical variation of the focal distance, in good agreement with experiments. This effect plays a major role in the determination of the effective duration of the energy pulse. The model was used to conduct simple calculations of energy thresholds for melting of solid materials, giving helpful insight on ranges of operation of this kind of electron gun for its application to material processing. A comparison with available experimental data for Mg₇₀Zn₃₀ samples is given

Keywords

electron beam applications; electron guns; glow discharges; plasma applications; Mg₇₀Zn₃₀; Mg₇₀Zn₃₀ samples; analytical method; discharge self-focusing; energy pulse; glow discharge electron beam; materials processing; pulsed cold cathode electron gun; semiempirical model; solid materials melting; Cathodes; Electron beams; Electron emission; Etching; Glow discharges; Materials processing; Predictive models; Pulse generation; Surface discharges; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.597256

Filename

597256