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Results for “surface breakdown”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2012

On the electrical conductivity of Ti-implanted alumina

Ion implantation of metal species into insulators provides a tool for the formation of thin, electrically conducting, surface layers with experimenter-controlled resistivity. High energy implantation of Pt and Ti into alumina accelerator components has been successfully employed to control high voltage surface breakdown in a number of cases. In the work described here we have carried out some basic investigations related to the origin of this phenomenon. By comparison of the results of alumina implanted with Ti at 75 keV with the results of prior investigations of polymers implanted with Pt at 49 eV and Au at 67 eV, we describe a physical model of the effect based on percolation theory and estimate the percolation parameters for the Ti-alumina composite. We estimate that the percolation dose threshold is about 4 x 10{sup 16} cm{sup -2} and the maximum dose for which the system remains an insulator-conductor composite is about 10 x 10{sup 16} cm{sup -2}. The saturation electrical conductivity is estimated to be about 50 S/m. We conclude that the observed electrical conductivity properties of Ti-implanted alumina can be satisfactorily described by percolation theory.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2010

Mechanistic Studies on Room Temperature Photoexcitation Effects on Passivity Breakdown of Ultrathin Surface Oxide Films Formed on Ternary Al-5%Cu-5%Ni Alloys

How the composition of nanoscale surface oxides formed on complex metal alloys affects their passive state is a problem of great interest both from scientific and technological perspectives. In this work, we report on experimental studies regarding the problem concerning the role of room temperature photo-excitation on altering composition of ultra-thin oxides formed on ternary Al-Cu-Ni thin film alloy surface and its influence in passivity breakdown in aqueous media. Extensive studies have been carried out on pure copper, Al-5%Cu and Al-5%Cu-5%Ni alloy thin films to investigate mechanistic role of alloying elements as well as their oxide formation characteristics on the resulting passive state. The differences in nanoscale oxide composition formed has a remarkable influence on the passivity breakdown of the oxide films as verified from electrochemical measurements and possible mechanisms leading to the observations are discussed in detail.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Initiation of vacuum insulator surface high-voltage flashover with electrons produced by laser illumination

In this paper, experiments are described in which cylindrical vacuum insulator samples and samples inclined at 45° relative to the cathode were stressed by microsecond timescale high-voltage pulses and illuminated by focused UV laser beam pulses. In these experiments, we were able to distinguish between flashover initiated by the laser producing only photo-electrons and when plasma is formed. It was shown that flashover is predominantly initiated near the cathode triple junction. Even dense plasma formed near the anode triple junction does not necessarily lead to vacuum surface flashover. The experimental results directly confirm our conjecture that insulator surface breakdown can be avoided by preventing its initiation [J. G. Leopold et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 10, 060401 (2007)] and complement our previous experimental results [J. Z. Gleizer et al., IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul. 21, 2394 (2014) and J. Z. Gleizer et al., J. Appl. Phys. 117, 073301 (2015)].

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Laser generation in polycrystalline Cr{sup 2+}:ZnSe with undoped faces

An original method has been suggested for producing polycrystalline Cr{sup 2+}:ZnSe samples with undoped faces. Generation characteristics of a Cr{sup 2+}:ZnSe laser are studied under pulse-periodic pumping by a Tm{sup 3+}:YLF-laser. The efficiency of converting the pump radiation into laser generation at a wavelength of 2350 nm is 20%. Cr{sup 2+}:ZnSe samples exhibit high resistance to surface breakdown. (lasers)

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Results of ultra compact plasma focus operating in repetitive burst-mode

The results of a miniature plasma focus are being presented in this paper which is operated with energy less than or equal to 150 Joules. The miniature plasma focus is driven by a small capacitor bank and the peak current delivered in the focus is 75kA. The deuterium gas is filled with a pressure range of 5-7 mbar inside the plasma focus chamber. The quartz glass is used for generating initial surface breakdown at 4-5 kV discharge which is a typical value for low-voltage plasma focus discharges. The repetitive operation of the device is achieved by a combination of a simple and high power (5 kW) power supply with the synchronized triggering of the capacitor bank at the time of isolation between supply and the capacitor bank. As the plasma focus chamber volume is very low, in order to achieve reduced after-shot contamination effects, the gas pressure inside the plasma focus is maintained by continuous pumping which is disallowed at the time of shorts rather having a sealed type plasma focus assembly. The results of such scheme are also discussed in the paper. The diameter of cathode is 25mm and anode diameter is 8-12 mm and both of them are made of stainless steel. The length of anode and gas pressure is adjusted in such a way that the pinching occurs at the time of occurrence of the peak of current. It enhances the neutron emission from the device. The time-of-flight diagnostic is used to distinguish neutron and X-ray emission from the plasma focus. The device can serve the purpose of being a portable and compact repetitive neutron source for various applications as the flux of the radiation is comparable with the bigger devices of same type. The modeling results of plasma focus are also compared with experimental results to give a broader picture of the device. (author)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Studying of Explosive Electron Emission From “Whisker” Cathode Using X-Ray Point-Projection Radiography

The results of direct observation of the initial phase of explosive electron emission using high-resolution X-ray radiography in X-pinch radiation are reported here. The confirmation of common “Ecton” theory was not found within achieved temporal and spatial resolutions. A mechanism involving the surface breakdown of whiskers that leads to plasma development is proposed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1974

Containerless processing of single crystals in low-G environment

Experiments on containerless crystal growth from the melt were conducted during Skylab missions SL3 and SL4 (Skylab Experiment M-560). Six samples of InSb were processed, one of them heavily doped with selenium. The concept of the experiment is discussed and related to general crystal growth methods and their merits as techniques for containerless processing in space. The morphology of the crystals obtained is explained in terms of volume changes associated with solidification and wetting conditions during solidification. All samples exhibit extremely well developed growth facets. Analysis by X-ray topographical methods and chemical etching shows that the crystals are of high structural perfection. Average dislocation density as revealed by etching is of the order of 100 per sq cm; no dislocation clusters could be observed in the space-grown samples. A sequence of striations that is observed in the first half of the selenium-doped sample is explained as being caused by periodic surface breakdown.

Walter, H. U.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Magnetized Target Fusion Propulsion: Plasma Injectors for MTF Guns

To achieve increased payload size and decreased trip time for interplanetary travel, a low mass, high specific impulse, high thrust propulsion system is required. This suggests the need for research into fusion as a source of power and high temperature plasma. The plasma would be deflected by magnetic fields to provide thrust. Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) research consists of several related investigations into these topics. These include the orientation and timing of the plasma guns and the convergence and interface development of the "pusher" plasma. Computer simulations of the gun as it relates to plasma initiation and repeatability are under investigation. One of the items under development is the plasma injector. This is a surface breakdown driven plasma generator designed to function at very low pressures. The performance, operating conditions and limitations of these injectors need to be determined.

Griffin, Steven T.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Axisymmetric Plume Simulations with NASA's DSMC Analysis Code

A comparison of axisymmetric Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) Analysis Code (DAC) results to analytic and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solutions in the near continuum regime and to 3D DAC solutions in the rarefied regime for expansion plumes into a vacuum is performed to investigate the validity of the newest DAC axisymmetric implementation. This new implementation, based on the standard DSMC axisymmetric approach where the representative molecules are allowed to move in all three dimensions but are rotated back to the plane of symmetry by the end of the move step, has been fully integrated into the 3D-based DAC code and therefore retains all of DAC s features, such as being able to compute flow over complex geometries and to model chemistry. Axisymmetric DAC results for a spherically symmetric isentropic expansion are in very good agreement with a source flow analytic solution in the continuum regime and show departure from equilibrium downstream of the estimated breakdown location. Axisymmetric density contours also compare favorably against CFD results for the R1E thruster while temperature contours depart from equilibrium very rapidly away from the estimated breakdown surface. Finally, axisymmetric and 3D DAC results are in very good agreement over the entire plume region and, as expected, this new axisymmetric implementation shows a significant reduction in computer resources required to achieve accurate simulations for this problem over the 3D simulations.

Stewart, B. D.↗
DOE OSTI2010

Microfabricated triggered vacuum switch

A microfabricated vacuum switch is disclosed which includes a substrate upon which an anode, cathode and trigger electrode are located. A cover is sealed over the substrate under vacuum to complete the vacuum switch. In some embodiments of the present invention, a metal cover can be used in place of the trigger electrode on the substrate. Materials used for the vacuum switch are compatible with high vacuum, relatively high temperature processing. These materials include molybdenum, niobium, copper, tungsten, aluminum and alloys thereof for the anode and cathode. Carbon in the form of graphitic carbon, a diamond-like material, or carbon nanotubes can be used in the trigger electrode. Channels can be optionally formed in the substrate to mitigate against surface breakdown.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

In situ detection of RF breakdown on microfabricated surface ion traps

We report microfabricated surface ion traps are a principal component of many ion-based quantum information science platforms. The operational parameters of these devices are pushed to the edge of their physical capabilities as the experiments strive for increasing performance. When the applied radio-frequency (RF) voltage is increased excessively, the devices can experience damaging electric discharge events known as RF breakdown. We introduce two novel techniques for in situ detection of RF breakdown, which we implemented while characterizing the breakdown threshold of surface ion traps produced at Sandia National Laboratories. In these traps, breakdown did not always occur immediately after increasing the RF voltage, but often minutes or even hours later. This result is surprising in the context of the suggested mechanisms for RF breakdown in vacuum. Additionally, the extent of visible damage caused by breakdown events increased with the applied voltage. To minimize the probability for damage when RF power is first applied to a device, our results strongly suggest that the voltage should be ramped up over the course of several hours and monitored for breakdown.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1980

On the swelling of rolled up vortex surfaces and the breakdown of the vortex core for slender wings

Simplified models of the vortex distribution over cylindrical surfaces are developed. The effect of a change of vortex strength was analyzed quantitatively by menas of potential theory. The considerable bulging of the cylindrical vortex sheet as a consequence of the change of the vortex strength is discussed. The coiling-up of the vortices rotation in opposite directions over the cylindrical surface renders the condition for instability and the subsequent large spreading of the vortex core. These processes occur without a positive pressure gradient being necessary in the field of flow surrounding the coiled up vortex sheet.

Das, A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Mass analysis of neutral particles and ions released during electrical breakdowns on spacecraft surfaces

A specialized spectrometer was designed and developed to measure the mass and velocity distributions of neutral particles (molecules and molecular clusters) released from metal-backed Teflon and Kapton films. Promising results were obtained with an insulation breakdown initiation system based on a moveable contact touching the insulated surfaces. A variable energy, high voltage pulse is applied to the contact. The resulting surface damage sites can be made similar in size and shape to those produced by a high voltage electron beam system operating at similar discharge energies. The point discharge apparatus was used for final development of several high speed recording systems and for measurements of the composition of the materials given off by the discharge. Results with this apparatus show evolution of large amounts of fluorocarbon fragments from discharge through Teflon FEP, while discharges through Kapton produce mainly very light hydrocarbon fragments at masses below about 80 a.m.u.

Kendall, B. R. F.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Generation of Intense UV Radiation during High-Current Breakdown over a Ferrite Surface

The dynamics and emission characteristics of pulsed breakdown over a ferrite surface at a current amplitude of 270 kA and current rise time of 80 ns were studied experimentally. It is shown that the characteristic transverse size of the discharge region in visible radiation is ~3 mm, while that in vacuum UV (VUV) radiation is ~200 μm. The duration of the VUV pulse with an average power of ≈0.275 GW is about 80 ns.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗