Vacuum Arc Voltage

Abstract

IN an investigation of the cathode mechanism of the vacuum arc, in a vacuum of 10−5 torr, arc voltages were recorded for forty-one different cathode metals. Oscillographic measurements were made at the minimum stable arcing current over a period of 20 sec; values varied from 5 to 25 V. Each arcing voltage consisted of a broad band of noise 2–3 V in width with a well defined lower edge VL. The quantity VL was measured for all forty-one elements and used as a parameter for correlation with the solid state properties of the cathode.