Charge and mass transfer in the cathode plasma jet of a low-inductance vacuum spark

The contributions of fast and slow ion components to the average mass transfer rate in the cathode plasma jet of a low-inductance vacuum spark have been determined using time-of-flight measurements. The total mechanical momentum of the cathode plasma jet has been found using the ballistic pendulum technique. The coefficient gamma of ion erosion of a cathode material was evaluated in the range of discharge current amplitudes 3-13 kA and the discharge current buildup rates 4 x 10(9)-1.5 x 10(10) A/s. The gamma value exhibits small variations in the indicated range of discharge parameters and is close to the values known for vacuum arcs. (C) 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc.