The effects of nanosecond atmospheric arcs on various metallic surfaces†

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The damage on silver, gold, tungsten and palladium contacts, due to the action of short duration, low current area at atmospheric pressure was examined using a scanning electron microscope. Current densities, obtained from measurements of the are current and the cathode damage dimensions, were of the order of 107 amps cm−2. Electron densities in the are columns have been estimated to reach 1018 electrons cm−3. Pressures of approximately 103 atmospheres and temperatures well above the metal boiling point were calculated for the cathode spot region. The velocity of the cathode spot along the palladium cathode surface was found to be approximately 105 cm sec−1. The electron drift velocity in the cathode spot region in palladium has been calculated to be 2.5 × 103 cm sec−1.

This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit: