Diffuse Vacuum Arc on the Nonthermionic Lead Cathode

Abstract

Experimental study of the diffuse vacuum arc discharge on the nonthermionic lead cathode is presented. At the working cathode temperatures of 1.2-1.6-kK current-voltage characteristic of the discharge, cathode heat operation regime and its erosion rate were measured. Using probe methods, electron temperature (0.3-1.2 eV) and heavy particles (atoms and ions) mean charge (0.17-0.28 e) were determined in after-anode plasma. Evaluated current densities on the cathode are in agreement with a hypothesis on the ion mechanism of charge transfer on its surface. Parameters of the obtained discharge have been compared with the characteristics of the earlier investigated diffuse vacuum arcs on nonthermionic chromium and on thermionic gadolinium cathodes. The obtained data might be useful when creating plasma sources for verifying the plasma separation method of the spent nuclear fuel using the nonradioactive substances.