Formation of field-induced breakdown precursors on metallic electrode surfaces
Understanding the underlying factors responsible for higher-than-anticipated local field enhancements required to trigger vacuum breakdown on pristine metal surfaces is crucial for the development of devices capable of withstanding intense operational fields. In this study, we investigate the behavi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2024.1353658/full |
| _version_ | 1797266416010788864 |
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| author | Soumendu Bagchi Evgenya Simakov Danny Perez |
| author_facet | Soumendu Bagchi Evgenya Simakov Danny Perez |
| author_sort | Soumendu Bagchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the underlying factors responsible for higher-than-anticipated local field enhancements required to trigger vacuum breakdown on pristine metal surfaces is crucial for the development of devices capable of withstanding intense operational fields. In this study, we investigate the behavior of nominally flat copper electrode surfaces exposed to electric fields of hundreds of MV/m. Our novel approach considers curvature-driven diffusion processes to elucidate the formation of sharp breakdown precursors. To do so, we develop a mesoscale finite element model that accounts for driving forces arising from both electrostatic and surface-tension-induced contributions to the free energy. Our findings reveal a dual influence: surface tension tends to mitigate local curvature, while the electric field drives mass transport toward regions of high local field density. This phenomenon can trigger the growth of sharper protrusions, ultimately leading to a rapid enhancement of local fields and, consequently, to a runaway growth instability. We delineate supercritical and subcritical regimes across a range of initial surface roughness. Our numerical results are in qualitative agreement with experimentally reported data, indicating the potential practical relevance of field-driven diffusion in the formation of breakdown precursors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:00:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ea44623aae14e6ea0bb0a8bee597cb2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-424X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:00:20Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ea44623aae14e6ea0bb0a8bee597cb22024-03-11T05:03:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2024-03-011210.3389/fphy.2024.13536581353658Formation of field-induced breakdown precursors on metallic electrode surfacesSoumendu Bagchi0Evgenya Simakov1Danny Perez2Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United StatesAccelerator Operations and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United StatesTheoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United StatesUnderstanding the underlying factors responsible for higher-than-anticipated local field enhancements required to trigger vacuum breakdown on pristine metal surfaces is crucial for the development of devices capable of withstanding intense operational fields. In this study, we investigate the behavior of nominally flat copper electrode surfaces exposed to electric fields of hundreds of MV/m. Our novel approach considers curvature-driven diffusion processes to elucidate the formation of sharp breakdown precursors. To do so, we develop a mesoscale finite element model that accounts for driving forces arising from both electrostatic and surface-tension-induced contributions to the free energy. Our findings reveal a dual influence: surface tension tends to mitigate local curvature, while the electric field drives mass transport toward regions of high local field density. This phenomenon can trigger the growth of sharper protrusions, ultimately leading to a rapid enhancement of local fields and, consequently, to a runaway growth instability. We delineate supercritical and subcritical regimes across a range of initial surface roughness. Our numerical results are in qualitative agreement with experimentally reported data, indicating the potential practical relevance of field-driven diffusion in the formation of breakdown precursors.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2024.1353658/fullbreakdownprecursor formationmesoscale surface diffusionelectrodiffusionfield induced behaviorfield-enhancment mechanisms |
| spellingShingle | Soumendu Bagchi Evgenya Simakov Danny Perez Formation of field-induced breakdown precursors on metallic electrode surfaces Frontiers in Physics breakdown precursor formation mesoscale surface diffusion electrodiffusion field induced behavior field-enhancment mechanisms |
| title | Formation of field-induced breakdown precursors on metallic electrode surfaces |
| title_full | Formation of field-induced breakdown precursors on metallic electrode surfaces |
| title_fullStr | Formation of field-induced breakdown precursors on metallic electrode surfaces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Formation of field-induced breakdown precursors on metallic electrode surfaces |
| title_short | Formation of field-induced breakdown precursors on metallic electrode surfaces |
| title_sort | formation of field induced breakdown precursors on metallic electrode surfaces |
| topic | breakdown precursor formation mesoscale surface diffusion electrodiffusion field induced behavior field-enhancment mechanisms |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2024.1353658/full |
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