Investigations of Microgap Discharges

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science In Physics

By JYOTI SHAKYA (Entry No : 2010PHS7032)

Supervisor: Dr. Hitendra K. Malik

Department of Physics

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

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To My Parents & My Brothers Mayank , Aman and Shivam

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CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the work contained in the thesis entitled , " Investigations of Microgap
Discharges" by Jyoti Shakya (Entry number : 2010PHS7032) has been carried out under my

supervision and that this work has not been submitted elsewhere for any degree.

Dr. Hitendra K Malik Associate Professor Department of physics Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

May, 2012

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Acknowledgement
I am deeply indebted to my supervisor Dr. Hitendra K Malik, who has given me excellent supervision, feedback and guidance during past one year. He has been very patient throughout the period and properly guided me to carry out the work in an organized manner. His research, advisory and leadership skills are outstanding and remarkable. I am also grateful to all my friends for carrying out chat sessions on various issues that came along as I proceeded towards my work. I also express my gratitude to our project co-ordinator , Dr. Varsha Banerjee who has kindly permitted me to do this project in an area of my choice . It would have never been possible if these people were not there to help me out.

Date: 27 April 2012

Jyoti Shakya

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ABSTRACT

In this project, the effect on breakdown voltage due to additionally applied oscillating electric field (OEF) is discussed. The separation between the electrodes is taken to be less than 15 micro meter. It is observed that if we apply the additional oscillating electric field, F0coskx Breakdown voltage for a particular electrode gap changes. First the field emission current density in the presence of oscillating electric field is derived. With the help of this derived expression of field emission current density, Ion enhanced field emission secondary coefficient (IEFESC) is calculated. It is observed that as we increase the applied electric field, ion enhanced field emission secondary coefficient increases. Using this modified form of IEFESC, Different graphs were plotted for breakdown voltage with respect to the distance between the electrodes. It is observed from these graphs that for larger values of IEFESC, The breakdown voltage decreases in micro gaps. The variation of IEFESC is also observed with respect to electric field.

CONTENTS

Certificate....iii Acknowledgment... iv Abstract...v Contents. vi List of Figures.viii Abbreviation viii Nomenclature.. ix

Chapter 1 : Introduction
1.1 1.2.

Corona and Townsend discharge.................2 Breakdown Mechanism ...3 1.2.1 1.2.2 process..4 process..4

1.3 1.4 1.5

Townsend breakdown criterion...4 Motivation6 Organization of this thesis7

Chapter 2 : Paschen 's Curve

2.1 2.2 2.4

General theory of Paschen's curve8 Expression for breakdown voltage.9 Paschen's curve for specific values of constants11

Chapter3: Modified Paschens Curve

3.1 3.2

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Ion enhanced field emission14 Field emission current density in presence of oscillating electric field .14
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3.3 Effect of the oscillating electric field on the ion enhanced field emission secondary coefficient (IEFESC)18

Chapter 4: Results and Analysis

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4.1 Breakdown voltage for different values of ion enhanced field emission secondary coefficient (IEFESC)20 4.2 Variation of IEFESC with respect to electric field..25

Chapter 5: Conclusions and Scope for Future Work Appendix References

27 28 32

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List of Figures
Fig 1.1: Fig 2.1: Fig 3.1: Fig 4.1: Fig 4.2: Fig 4.3: Fig 4.4: Fig 4.5: Fig A: Regions of Dark Discharge Paschens Curve Triangular Potential Barrier Modified Paschens Curve for = 0.01 Modified Paschens Curve for = 0.95 Modified Paschens Curve for = 5 Modified Paschens Curve for = 20 Variation of IEFESC with respect to electric field Potential barrier of general shape along x direction

Abbreviations
OEF FIC IEFESC FN Equation WKB BDV EG TM Oscillating Electric Field First Ionization Coefficient Ion enhanced field emission secondary coefficient Fowler Nordheim Equation Wentzel- Kramers-Brillouin Breakdown Voltage Electrode Gap Townsend Mechanism Electron Tunneling

ET

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Nomenclature
i Vb d J DFN k F F0coskx p Second ionization coefficient Ion enhanced field emission secondary coefficient Breakdown Voltage Electrode Gap Field Emission Current Density Threshold Electric Field First Ionization Coefficient Wave Vector Electric Field Oscillating Electric Field Pressure Work Function

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