Influence of transverse magnetic fields on prebreakdown current in non-uniform field gaps in vacuum

Abstract

The authors report results of an experimental study into the relationship between the prebreakdown current in nonuniform field gaps in vacuum under DC voltage and the transverse magnetic field. The gaps included point-point and point-plane arrangements and spacing from 1.0 to 5.0 mm. The critical magnetic field strengths causing the interruption of current flow in these gaps were calculated. It is shown that prebreakdown current in technical vacuum contains a nonemission component. It is also shown that the transverse magnetic field with density in the range B=0.02 T up to B=0.9 T always causes a reduction in prebreakdown current in vacuum for electrode arrangements investigated.<>