Investigation of anode and cathode jets influence on electric arc properties with current up to 500 kA

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science 2003-04, Vol.31 (2), p.201-206
• Main Authors: Rutberg, P.G., Bogomaz, A.A., Budin, A.V., Kolikov, V.A., Pinchuk, M.E., Pozubenkov, A.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anodes; Breakdown; Brightness temperature; Cathodes; Channels; Circuit testing; Computer programming; CRTs; Electric breakdown; Electrodes; Hydrogen; Initial pressure; Jets; Shadows; Tungsten; Voltage; Wire
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2003.810183

A number of phenomena connected with the formation of electrode jets in discharges in hydrogen at a current of 10/sup 5/-10/sup 6/ A, a current growth rate of 10/sup 10/ A/s, an initial pressure 0.1-4.0 MPa, and a discharge gap length of 5-40 mm were studied. After the secondary breakdown, the jets are observed through a discharge semitransparent channel, widening with velocity (4-7) /spl middot/ 10/sup 2/ m/s. Shockwave formation was detected at the interaction of jets with the surrounding gas and the opposite electrode. Plasma vapor pressure of metal near the end of the tungsten cathode 70 /spl mu/s after initiation of a discharge was 180 MPa. Thus, magnitude of brightness temperature was 59 /spl middot/ 10/sup 3/ K, with an average charge of ions-m~=3.1, and a concentration of metal vapors n=5.3/spl middot/10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/. While those at the end of the anode 90 /spl mu/s after initiation of discharge: m~=2.6, n=7.4/spl middot/10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/. Probable reasons of high-voltage drops near the electrodes (the summarized magnitude of which is /spl sim/1 kV) are discussed on the basis of experimental data. For the first time, the shadow method registered symmetric ejection of material from the all-cathode surface the maximum discharge current was observed.