Abstract
Pre-breakdown current traces obtained during high pressure gas breakdown and vacuum surface flashover show similar signatures. The initial pre-breakdown current spike, a flat constant current phase, and the breakdown phase with voltage collapse and current surge differ mostly in magnitude. Given these similarities, a model, consisting of the initial current spike corresponding to a fast precursor streamer (ionization wave led by a photoionizing front), the flat current stage as the heating or glow phase, and the terminal avalanche and gap closure, is applied to vacuum surface flashover. A simple analytical approximation based on the resistivity changes induced in the vacuum and dielectric surface is presented. The approximation yields an excellent fit to pre-breakdown time delay vs applied field for previously published experimental data. A detailed kinetics model that includes surface and gas contributions is being developed based in the initial approximation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Digest of Technical Papers-IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference |
Editors | G. Cooperstein, I. Vitkovitsky |
Place of Publication | Piscataway, NJ, United States |
Publisher | IEEE |
Pages | 1027-1032 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Volume | 2 |
State | Published - 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | Proceedings of the 1997 11th International Pulsed Power Conference. Part 2 (of 2) - Baltimore, MD, USA Duration: Jun 29 1997 → Jul 2 1997 |
Other
Other | Proceedings of the 1997 11th International Pulsed Power Conference. Part 2 (of 2) |
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City | Baltimore, MD, USA |
Period | 6/29/97 → 7/2/97 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering