Abstract
The breakdown voltage in ultra-high vacuum of stainless steel and titanium electrodes is measured as a function of the electrode separation in the range 0.05-0.80 mm. This relationship can be described by the simple equation V b = Cd a . Values for c and a are given for all electrode combinations. For titanium electrodes the current just before breakdown was about three times that for stainless steel electrodes. Comparative measurements with all combinations of stainless steel and titanium show that the cause of this difference must be sought in the anode. The microscopic breakdown field strength was a function of the emitting cathode area, as derived from Fowler-Nordheim plots. This dependence suggests that the breakdown was initiated by thermal instabilities at the anode due to field emission electrons. This is consistent with a theoretical analysis. Measurements of the pre-breakdown current allow an estimate of the number and dimensions of emitting sites.
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