Electrode phenomena and measurements of the erosion rate in high-current pseudospark switches

Author

Prucker, Udo ; Christiansen, Jens ; Frank, Klaus ; Görtler, Andreas ; Hoffmann, Dieter H H ; Schwandner, Alfred ; Tkotz, Rupert

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., Erlangen-Nurnberg Univ., Germany

Volume

25

Issue

4

fYear

1997

fDate

8/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

748

Lastpage

753

Abstract

For microsecond pulses and peak currents up to 105 kA, the erosion rate, electrode profile, and electrode surface of molybdenum electrodes were investigated. The direction of electrode material transport was verified. The discharge behavior of molybdenum electrodes was studied by streak photography. A contraction of the plasma column occurs at the cathode for peak currents above 20 kA. A bright luminous anode flare appears at a peak current of about 40 kA, correlated with an evident anode melting. A further constriction of the anode flare was observed for currents exceeding 90 kA. Opposite to lower currents, an increase in the weight of the cathode was noticed as well

Keywords

arcs (electric); electrodes; glow discharges; molybdenum; plasma diagnostics; plasma switches; sparks; vacuum arcs; wear; 105 kA; 20 kA; 40 kA; 90 kA; Mo; anode flare; anode melting; bright luminous anode flare; discharge behavior; electrode material transport; electrode phenomena; electrode profile; electrode surface; erosion rate; high-current pseudospark switches; microsecond pulses; peak currents; plasma column; streak photography; Anodes; Cathodes; Circuits; Electrodes; Fault location; Insulation; Physics; Pulse measurements; Surface discharges; Switches;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.640698

Filename

640698