Electrical discharges at small gap lengths stimulated by femtosecond laser pulses

Jian Chen, Hae Woon Choi, Dave F. Farson, Stanislav I. Rokhlin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The electrical characteristics of current-controlled electrical discharges formed in micro- and nano-scale gaps between sharpened metal cathodes and metal anodes were studied. When electrical potential was applied to the tip, transient electrical discharges were observed to form at a field of about 3×10 8 V/m. Irradiation of the tip/gap/substrate area with a femtosecond laser beam was found to decrease the field required for spark initiation. The length of current-controlled discharges increased with voltage. The surface modification at the gold film anodes was found to be well-controlled when current was regulated and the sharpened metal cathode tips were not much modified by discharges.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2006 6th IEEE Conference on Nanotechnology, IEEE-NANO 2006
Pages595-598
Number of pages4
StatePublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
Event2006 6th IEEE Conference on Nanotechnology, IEEE-NANO 2006 - Cincinnati, OH, United States
Duration: Jun 17 2006Jun 20 2006

Publication series

Name2006 6th IEEE Conference on Nanotechnology, IEEE-NANO 2006
Volume2

Conference

Conference2006 6th IEEE Conference on Nanotechnology, IEEE-NANO 2006
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCincinnati, OH
Period06/17/0606/20/06

Keywords

  • Arc discharges
  • Electrical breakdown
  • Electrode erosion
  • Laser triggering
  • Sparks

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