ELECTRICAL PHENOMENA OCCURRING AT THE SURFACE OF ELECTRICALLY STRESSED METAL CATHODES .1. ELECTROLUMINESCENCE AND BREAKDOWN PHENOMENA WITH MEDIUM GAP SPACINGS (2-8 MM)

Spectral intensity measurements have been made of the light emitted from discrete points on the surface of electrically stressed metal cathodes. DC and pulsed breakdown voltage measurements have also been made immediately following surface arcing treatment. These show that the significant differences occur between different electrode materials. It is shown that the phenomena of electroluminescence, electron emission and vacuum breakdown, are all consistent with a model based on the production of conducting filamentary channels, electroformed through surface oxide or oxide type impurities by the action of the applied field.