Title :
Microexplosion initiation by plasma heating of the microprotrusion at the wall
Author :
Barengolts, S.A. ; Mesyats, G.A. ; Tsventoukh, M.M.
Author_Institution :
A. M. Prokhorov Gen. Phys. Inst., RAS, Moscow
Abstract :
The evolution of fast (~10 ns) overheating of microprotrusion (~1 mum) at the plasma-surface boundary is considered. The heating of surface by plasma ions and electrons, cooling/heating by emission, and Ohmic heating were taken into account. Thermo-field emission current density and average energy of emitted electrons were calculated numerically. Electric field was defined by a Mackeowen-like equation. Considered range of plasma parameters: {1014 cm-3-1020 cm-3}; {0.1 eV-10 keV}. The ability was shown of microprotrusion explosive overheating consistent with emission. The explosive threshold was found to be the power flux to the surface qthr~200 MW/cm2. The ldquoexplosiverdquo heating here means both achieving T~104 K, j~108 A/cm2 and increasing of growth: partT/partt>0, part2T/partt2>0, partj/partt>0 (partJ/partt>0). With plasma density less than (3-5)middot1018 cm-3, (with q>200 MW/cm2), the emission cooling is insufficient (because of emission restriction by space charge), and overheating occurs much earlier - at ~1 ns. In that case the intense metal vapor ionization lead to the significant density growth at the surface and to transition of heating evolution into the explosive regime. Considered conditions for microexplosion initiation with strong emission pulse - the ecton (~1010-1011 electrons per pulse), can be realized in plasma interaction with cathode, anode, or isolated wall; and can lead to the arc spots formation.
Keywords :
cooling; explosions; ionisation; plasma heating; plasma-wall interactions; Mackeowen-like equation; cooling; electron volt energy 0.1 eV to 10 keV; heating evolution; metal vapor ionization; microexplosion initiation; microprotrusion explosive overheating; ohmic heating; plasma heating; plasma interaction; plasma ions; plasma-surface boundary; thermo-field emission current; Cooling; Current density; Electron emission; Equations; Explosives; Heating; Ionization; Lead; Plasma density; Space charge;
Conference_Titel :
Discharges and Electrical Insulation in Vacuum, 2008. ISDEIV 2008. 23rd International Symposium on
Conference_Location :
Bucharest
Print_ISBN :
978-973-755-382-9
Electronic_ISBN :
1093-2941
DOI :
10.1109/DEIV.2008.4676801