Study of the effects of roughness, ultraviolet radiation, multipactoring and magnetic field on vacuum breakdown
Aghazarian, Maro
Loading…
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/45506
Description
Title
Study of the effects of roughness, ultraviolet radiation, multipactoring and magnetic field on vacuum breakdown
Author(s)
Aghazarian, Maro
Issue Date
2013-08-22T16:42:32Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Ruzic, David N.
Department of Study
Nuclear, Plasma, & Rad Engr
Discipline
Nuclear Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Keyword(s)
vacuum breakdowns
Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies (ICRF) antennas
breakdown
macroroughness
high voltage breakdown
electrical breakdown
surface roughness
effects of UV on breakdown
vacuum breakdown
ICRF antenna breakdown
Abstract
Breakdowns in vaccuum and the factors a ffecting them have been studied for more than a hundred years, with applications ranging from high voltage isolation to space propulsion. In current thermonuclear fusion projects, one of the methods of heating the plasma is through ion cyclotron radiofrequency heating. ICRF antennas are used to this end, while the voltage and hence the power possible to deliver through these antennas is limited because of breakdowns. The focus of this research has been to study some of the factors suspected to a ffect these breakdowns, namely, the macroscopic surface roughness and ultraviolet radiation, with the ultimate purpose of raising the breakdown threshold of ICRF antennas in order to deliver more power to thermonuclear fusion plasmas. Macroscopic surface roughness did not signify any regular prediction of breakdown threshold in copper and aluminum electrodes subjected to DC voltage.
Though the presence of ultraviolet radiation lowered the breakdown threshold on average, the difference in the mean values was smaller than the uncertainty in measurement, making the results inconclusive until further studies are performed.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
