Microwave breakdown of low pressure N(2) gas in microgaps

Authors

T J. Klein, Hope College
Christopher J. Ploch, Hope College
Cameron J. Recknagel, Hope College
Stephen K. Remillard, Hope CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-19-2011

Publication Source

AppliedPhysics Letters

Volume Number

99

Issue Number

12

Publisher

American Institute of Physics, Circulation & Fulfillment Division

ISSN

0003-6951

Abstract

The pressure dependence of the breakdown of nitrogen gas by a microwave field in microgaps down to 13 mu m has been measured. Fits to a phenomenological function suggest that microwave breakdown in small gaps requires a higher collision frequency, nu(c). If the effective electric field on an electron in a microgap is interpreted as E(eff) = E(o)root nu(2)(c)/(nu(2)(c) + omega(2)) and then as the gap size is reduced, we find that the collision frequency needed to produce a minimum breakdown electric field shifts from nu(c) = omega for large gaps to nu(c) = 2 omega for small gaps. (C) 2011 American Institute ofPhysics. [doi:10.1063/1.3641900]

Recommended Citation

Published in: AppliedPhysics Letters, Volume 99, Issue 12, September 19, 2011. Copyright © 2011 American Institute of Physics, Circulation & Fulfillment Division, 2 Huntington Quadrangle, Ste 1 N O 1, Melville, NY 11747-4501 USA. The final published version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3641900