Utilizing the values of a cathode spot radius and its temperature, which are calculated on the basis of the cathode mechanism theory proposed recently by Kubono, the rate of metal evaporation from a single cathode spot on Ag, Au, Ir, Pd, Pt, and Rh electrodes is expressed in simple approximate formulas as a function of arc current. In the case of Ag and Au electrodes, the calculated results are found to be in agreement with experimental data by different investigators, but it is difficult to compare calculations with measurements on the other electrodes because of few experimental data. This estimating process and these approximate formulas for the radius, temperature, and evaporation rate on the cathode spot as a function of arc current are useful, because it is very laborious to measure the cathode spot radius, temperature, and the evaporation rate.

1.
T. H.
Lee
 and
A.
Greenwood
,
J. Appl. Phys.
32
,
916
(
1961
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
2.
B. E.
Djakov
 and
R.
Holmes
,
J. Phys. D
4
,
504
(
1971
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
3.
G.
Ecker
,
IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.
PS‐4
,
218
(
1976
).
Google Scholar
 
4.
T.
Kubono
,
J. Appl. Phys.
49
,
3863
(
1978
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
J. E.
Daalder
,
J. Phys. D
11
,
1667
(
1978
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
6.
D. T.
Tuma
,
C. L.
Chen
, and
D. K.
Davies
,
J. Appl. Phys.
49
,
3821
(
1978
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
7.
T.
Kubono
,
J. Appl. Phys.
49
,
5790
(
1978
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
S. Dushman, Scientific Foundations of Vacuum Technique, 2nd ed. (Wiley, New York, 1962), pp. 691–694.
9.
T. Kubono, Trans. Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan, submitted May 1, 1978. (unpublished).
10.
C. A.
Haque
 and
J. H.
Fritz
,
IEEE Trans. Parts Hybrids Packag.
PHP‐10
,
27
(
1974
).
Google Scholar
 
11.
G. V. Samsonov, Handbook of the Physiochemical Properties of the Elements (Oldbourne, London, 1968), pp. 352.
12.
C. J. Smithells, Metal Reference Book, 5th ed. (Butterworths, London, 1976), pp. 186, 231, 941, and 947.
13.
T.
Utsumi
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
18
,
218
(
1971
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
14.
M. P.
Reece
,
Proc. Inst. Electr. Eng.
110
,
793
(
1963
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
15.
J. D.
Cobine
 and
T. A.
Vanderslice
,
IEEE Trans. Commun. Electron.
82
,
240
(
1963
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
16.
J. A.
Rich
 and
G. A.
Farrall
,
Proc. IEEE
52
,
1293
(
1964
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
17.
A. A.
Plyutto
,
V. N.
Ryzhkov
, and
A. T.
Kapin
,
Sov. Phys. JETP
20
,
328
(
1965
).
Google Scholar
 
18.
J. Kutzner and Z. Zalucki, Proceedings of International Conference on Gas Discharge 1970, London, pp. 87–94 (unpublished).
19.
C. W.
Kimblin
,
J. Appl. Phys.
44
,
3074
(
1973
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
20.
P. J.
Boddy
 and
T.
Utsumi
,
J. Appl. Phys.
42
,
3369
(
1971
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1979 American Institute of Physics.
1979
American Institute of Physics
You do not currently have access to this content.