Treatment of the Vacuum Gap Electrodes in a State of Delayed Breakdown

The objects of experimental studies were plane vacuum gaps (VG) with a metal cathode and anode made of a heat-resistant material with high resistivity. In these VG's, it was possible to create conditions that can be described as a state of delayed breakdown and to study temporary changes in the current-voltage characteristics at current levels up to 10−4 A without the risk of spark breakdown of the VG during discharge of its capacity. Morphological changes on the metal electrodes surface in the state of delayed breakdown are studied. The possibility of separate conditioning of the VG electrodes together with a high-resistance electrode was also investigated to increase its short-pulse electrical strength of the first breakdown.