Field emission and explosive electron emission processes in vacuum discharges

E.A. Litvinov, G.A. Mesyats^a, D.I. Proskurovskii
^aLebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prosp. 53, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation

The article reviews the current state of studies of electrical breakdown and discharges in vacuum. The main attention is devoted to cathode and near-cathode phenomena, which form the physical content of fast processes in a vacuum discharge. The model of cathode initiation of a vacuum discharge as the result of field emission with high current density is analyzed. The phenomenon of explosive electron emission is described in detail. On the basis of ideas developed in study of explosive electron emission, nonstationary processes in vacuum breakdown and in the cathode spot of a vacuum arc are discussed.

PACS: 52.80.Vp
DOI: 10.1070/PU1983v026n02ABEH004322
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1983/2/c/
Citation: Litvinov E A, Mesyats G A, Proskurovskii D I "Field emission and explosive electron emission processes in vacuum discharges" Sov. Phys. Usp. 26 138–159 (1983)

BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks

Оригинал: Литвинов Е А, Месяц Г А, Проскуровский Д И «Автоэмиссионные и взрывоэмиссионные процессы при вакуумных разрядах» УФН 139 265–302 (1983); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0139.198302c.0265

Cited by (161) Similar articles (20) ↓

S.P. Bugaev, E.A. Litvinov et al “Explosive emission of electrons” Sov. Phys. Usp. 18 51–61 (1975)
G.A. Lyubimov, V.I. Rakhovskii “The cathode spot of a vacuum arc” Sov. Phys. Usp. 21 693–718 (1978)
G.A. Mesyats “Ecton or electron avalanche from metal” Phys. Usp. 38 567–590 (1995)
L.P. Babich, T.V. Loiko, V.A. Tsukerman “High-voltage nanosecond discharge in a dense gas at a high overvoltage with runaway electrons” Sov. Phys. Usp. 33 (7) 521–540 (1990)
G.A. Mesyats, S.A. Barengol’ts “Mechanism of anomalous ion generation in vacuum arcs” Phys. Usp. 45 1001–1018 (2002)
L.M. Vasilyak, S.V. Kostyuchenko et al “Fast ionisation waves under electrical breakdown conditions” Phys. Usp. 37 247–268 (1994)
V.F. Tarasenko, S.I. Yakovlenko “The electron runaway mechanism in dense gases and the production of high-power subnanosecond electron beams” Phys. Usp. 47 887–905 (2004)
G.A. Mesyats, Yu.I. Bychkov, V.V. Kremnev “Pulsed nanosecond electric discharges in gases” Sov. Phys. Usp. 15 282–297 (1972)
V.A. Volkov, V.A. Petrov, V.B. Sandomirskii “The high-index surface—a superlattice for two-dimensional electrons” Sov. Phys. Usp. 23 375–385 (1980)
A.I. Zhakin “Ionic conductivity and complexation in liquid dielectrics” Phys. Usp. 46 45–61 (2003)
G.A. Mesyats, M.I. Yalandin “High-power picosecond electronics” Phys. Usp. 48 211–229 (2005)
A.V. Gurevich, K.P. Zybin “Runaway breakdown and electric discharges in thunderstorms” Phys. Usp. 44 1119–1140 (2001)
A.I. Zhakin “Electrohydrodynamics” Phys. Usp. 55 465–488 (2012)
A.V. Eletskii “Carbon nanotube-based electron field emitters” Phys. Usp. 53 863–892 (2010)
Yu.I. Bychkov, Yu.D. Korolev, G.A. Mesyats “Pulse discharges in gases under conditions of strong ionization by electrons” Sov. Phys. Usp. 21 944–958 (1978)
V.A. Alekseev, V.E. Fortov, I.T. Yakubov “Physical properties of high-pressure plasmas” Sov. Phys. Usp. 26 99–115 (1983)
S.V. Lebedev, A.I. Savvatimskii “Metals during rapid heating by dense currents” Sov. Phys. Usp. 27 749–771 (1984)
S.A. Akhmanov, V.I. Emel’yanov et al “Interaction of powerful laser radiation with the surfaces of semiconductors and metals: nonlinear optical effects and nonlinear optical diagnostics” Sov. Phys. Usp. 28 1084–1124 (1985)
B.M. Smirnov “Atomic structure and the resonant charge exchange process” Phys. Usp. 44 221–253 (2001)
Lozanskii É D “Development of electron avalances and streamers” Sov. Phys. Usp. 18 893–908 (1975)

The list is formed automatically.