Speaker
Description
We present an overview of studies that examine the role of photo-assisted breakdown. Emphasis is placed on an experimental platform that subjects well-characterized platinum surfaces to pulsed UV illumination as functions of UV illumination and UV wavelengths spanning from 260 nm (4.77 eV) to 400 nm (3.11 EV), well below the 6 eV values often used for platinum. Application UV illumination is synchronized to voltage pulses applied across the anode-cathode gap to control the initiation of the breakdown event. Current-voltage characteristics measured during breakdown in modest pressures of helium gas (10-100 Torr) are compared to computational simulations.
Research reported in this publication was supported by the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA000352
