Influence of pulse front steepness on vacuum flashover characteristics

Studying flashover characteristics in vacuum environment is extremely significant for designing reliable insulation structures. The waveform of applied voltage excitations greatly affects the flashover process. In this study, the influence of nanosecond pulse front steepness on flashover process in vacuum is investigated. Firstly, flashover experiments with nanosecond pulses are conducted. Nanosecond pulses with different front steepness are generated and used to trigger flashovers on sample surface. The relationship between pulse front steepness and flashover voltage is studied. Meanwhile, a particle-in-cell with Monte Carlo collision (PIC-MCC) two-dimensional self-sustaining discharge model based on secondary electron emission avalanche (SEEA) scheme is established. The distribution of charged particles, electric field and their evolution during flashover process are presented. Furthermore, pulses with various rising steepness are applied to the model. The multiplication and propagation of charged particles in different pulse waveform conditions are studied. In all conditions, two stages during flashover process can be obviously distinguished based on charged particle number evolution which divides the overall flashover delay time into two parts. By analyzing the voltage development in these two time slots, the quasi-linear relationship between pulse front steepness and flashover voltage in nanosecond pulse flashover in vacuum is explained.