Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

High-Pressure Glow-to-Arc Transitions with Tungsten and Copper Cathodes

Abstract

FURTHER experiments on high-pressure glow-to-arc transitions using the technique described in a previous communication1 indicate that, with both tungsten and copper cathodes, transitions may be initiated by either low ionization cathode impurities or surface irregularities. It has been found that a stable glow discharge may be operated in oxygen and on either thin or thick oxide layers provided the layers are smooth; but with the same experimental conditions the presence of an irregular oxide layer was found to cause transitions. Transitions were similarly obtained with unoxidized irregular surfaces and surfaces contaminated with irregular semi-conductor layers. In all cases the transitions were observed to take place at the points of irregularity. While it is clear, for example, from the work of Llewellyn Jones2 and his collaborators, that enhanced emission is obtained from oxide surfaces, our work indicates that a more important factor affecting glow-to-arc transitions appears to be the presence of surface irregularities. An examination of the work of the many previous investigators who conclude that oxides or oxygen produce transitions shows that the transitions which they obtained may well have been produced by the presence of oxide irregularities rather than by the oxide itself. It may be concluded that such irregularities lead to an enhanced field and the consequent rapid formation of a field-emission arc.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Edels, H., Nature, 172, 362 (1953).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Llewellyn Jones, F., and De La Perrelle, E. T., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 216, 267 (1953).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Suits, C. G., J. App. Phys., 10, 648 (1939).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Fan, H. Y., Phys. Rev., 55, 769 (1939).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bruce, C. E. R., Nature, 161, 521 (1948).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Höcker, K. H., and Finkelnburg, W., Z. Naturforsch., 1, 305 (1946).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. King, L. A., Nature, 174, 1008 (1954).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Plesse, H., Ann. der Phys., 22, 473 (1935).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Mackeown, S. S., Phys. Rev., 34, 611 (1929).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

PRICE, W., GAMBLING, W. & EDELS, H. High-Pressure Glow-to-Arc Transitions with Tungsten and Copper Cathodes. Nature 176, 28–29 (1955). https://doi.org/10.1038/176028a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/176028a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing