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arXiv · 1006.3770

Modeling Vacuum Arcs

Z. Insepov·J. Norem·T. Proslier·D. Huang·S. Mahalingam·S. Veitzer
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Abstract

We are developing a model of vacuum arcs. This model assumes that arcs develop as a result of mechanical failure of the surface due to Coulomb explosions, followed by ionization of fragments by field emission and the development of a small, dense plasma that interacts with the surface primarily through self sputtering and terminates as a unipolar arc capable of producing breakdown sites with high enhancement factors. We have attempted to produce a self consistent picture of triggering, arc evolution and surface damage. We are modeling these mechanisms using Molecular Dynamics (mechanical failure, Coulomb explosions, self sputtering), Particle-In-Cell (PIC) codes (plasma evolution), mesoscale surface thermodynamics (surface evolution), and finite element electrostatic modeling (field enhancements). We can present a variety of numerical results. We identify where our model differs from other descriptions of this phenomenon.

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Z. Insepov, J. Norem, T. Proslier, D. Huang, S. Mahalingam, S. Veitzer. 2010-06-18. Modeling Vacuum Arcs. https://arxiv.org/abs/1006.3770

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