Title :
Dependence of the peak current on the hollow cathode dimensions and secondary electron production in a pseudospark discharge
Author :
Cetiner, Selma ; Stoltz, Peter ; Messmer, Peter ; Schoessow, Paul
Author_Institution :
Tech-X Corp., Boulder, CO
Abstract :
Summary form only given. The pseudospark, a gas discharge operating on the left branch of the Paschen breakdown curve is characterized by a very rapid breakdown phase during which a rapid increase in the current can be achieved. Typical experimental setups operate at pressures of 10 to 100 Pa and voltages ranging between 0.1 and 100 kV. The dependence of the magnitude of the peak current on the hollow cathode dimensions is investigated using the two-dimensional kinetic plasma simulation code OOPIC Pro and the two and three-dimensional code VORPAL. The relative importance of secondary electrons due to both ion and electron impact is also studied. A detailed comparison of the results generated by the two codes is presented
Keywords :
plasma collision processes; plasma kinetic theory; plasma simulation; secondary electron emission; sparks; 0.1 to 100 kV; 10 to 100 Pa; OOPIC Pro; Paschen breakdown curve; VORPAL code; electron impact; gas discharge; hollow cathode; ion impact; kinetic plasma simulation code; pseudospark discharge; secondary electron production; Cathodes; Collaborative work; Discharges; Electric breakdown; Electrons; Kinetic theory; Plasma simulation; Production; Voltage;
Conference_Titel :
Plasma Science, 2006. ICOPS 2006. IEEE Conference Record - Abstracts. The 33rd IEEE International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Traverse City, MI
Print_ISBN :
1-4244-0125-9
DOI :
10.1109/PLASMA.2006.1707190
