Pulsed Electrical Discharge in Vacuum

1. Introduction.- 2. Review of Vacuum Breakdown and Discharge Studies.- 2.1 The Electrode Surface in a Vacuum Discharge.- 2.2 Vacuum Insulation, Properties and Breakdown.- 2.3 Kinetics of Vacuum Electrical Breakdown.- 2.4 Field Electron Emission to Vacuum Breakdown Transition.- 2.5 Hypotheses on Vacuum Breakdown Initiation.- 2.6 Spark Stage of Vacuum Breakdown.- 2.7 The Discharge Arc Stage. The Cathode Spot.- 3. Experimental Equipment and Techniques.- 3.1 Electrical Measurement Techniques.- 3.2 Diagnostics of the Radiation that Accompanies Breakdown.- 3.3 Vacuum Equipment.- 3.4 Preparation and Examination of Electrode Surfaces.- 4. Pulsed Nanosecond Breakdown of Vacuum Gaps.- 4.1 Time Characteristics of the Pulsed Vacuum Breakdown.- 4.2 Study of Light Emission at Pulsed Breakdown.- 4.3 Electrode Erosion Studies.- 4.4 Nature of the Discharge Current at Breakdown.- 4.5 Mechanism of Pulsed Breakdown of Vacuum Gaps.- 5. Cathode Processes in a Pulsed Vacuum Discharge.- 5.1 EEE Initiation by High-Density FEE Current.- 5.2 Erosion of Point Cathodes.- 5.3 EEE Current Density Measurements.- 5.4 Microstructure of the Cathode Surface.- 5.5 The Contribution of Droplet Ejection to Cathode Erosion.- 5.6 Pressure in the Emission Zone.- 5.7 Formation of Cathode Microstructure.- 6. Cathode Flare Plasma.- 6.1 Velocity of CF Plasma Expansion.- 6.2 CF Plasma Parameters.- 6.3 EEE Current Effect on the Dynamics of the Plasma Light Emission.- 6.4 A Model for CF Plasma Expansion.- 7. Current Passage in the Spark Stage of Breakdown.- 7.1 Electron Emission from CF Plasma into Vacuum.- 7.2 Electron Emission from CF Plasma, Experimental Studies.- 7.3 Current-Voltage Characteristics of a Single-CF Diode.- 7.4 Dynamics of the CF Electron Emission Boundary.- 7.5 CF Plasma Potential Distribution and Plasma Emissive Properties.- 7.6 Spark Current Between Broad-Area Electrodes.- 8. Formation of New Emission Centers on the Cathode.- 8.1 Mechanisms of New EC Formation Under the Plasma.- 8.2 New EC Formation and Operation Under Cathode Plasma.- 8.3 "Screening" Effect and Electron Beam Structure in a Diode.- 9. Anode Processes in the Spark Stage of Vacuum Breakdown.- 9.1 Anode Heat Conditions.- 9.2 Surface Structure of the Anode in the Discharge Zone.- 9.3 Formation of Anode Flares.- 9.4 X-Radiation Generated at the Anode.- 10. Fast Processes at DC Breakdown of Vacuum Gaps.- 10.1 Electrical Study of DC Breakdown.- 10.2 Optical Studies.- 10.3 Comparison with Results of Other Investigations.- 10.4 EEE Initiation at DC Breakdown.- 11. Nonstationary Processes in the Vacuum Arc Cathode Spot.- 11.1 The Motion of Vacuum Arc Cathode Spots.- 11.2 Response of the Vacuum Arc to Current Transients.- 11.3 Vacuum Arcs at Threshold Currents.- 11.4 Numerical Simulation of Processes in an Explosive Emission Center.- 11.5 Explosive Electron Emission and the Vacuum Arc Cathode Spot.- 12. Pulsed Electrical Discharge in Vacuum at Cryogenic Electrode Temperatures.- 12.1 Field Electron Emission at Low Cathode Temperatures.- 12.2 Field Emission Current Preceding the Explosion of a Point.- 12.3 Characteristics of the Vacuum Discharge at Cryogenic Temperatures.- 12.4 Vacuum Discharge Between Electrodes Made of High-Temperature Superconductors.- References.