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Re: [Phys-l] Sparks in vacuum



As you've posited, there's no "sparky medium" to get an ionization stream going from one parallel plate to the other. However, there is certainly the possibility that small portions (slivers) of one plate may be torn from that plate and attracted to the other one. If they're fimly attached, the energy evolved in the tearing process can easily heat the slivers to incandescence. These would constitute sparks of a form, such as are produced in metal-grinding. Plasmas are roughly the same thing, writ larger and without that solid bit of metal in the middle.

My gut feeling is that the question is ill-posed, and your immediate reaction is the right one: In a perfect vacuum "conventional" sparks will not form. The "unconventional" sparks very definitely depend on the metals used, the plates' imperfections, and any fringing fields surrounding the plates.

C.O.

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Down with categorical imperative!
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________________________________
From: "CARABAJAL PEREZ, MARCIAL ROBERTO" <mcarabajalp@ypf.com>
To: "phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu" <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 8:16:24 AM
Subject: [Phys-l] Sparks in vacuum

Hello:

Students made me an interest question. In a perfect vacuum, Which is the potential (voltage) required to obtain a spark between two parallel plates at distance d ?. SInce ionization is not possible in perfect vacuum, I find it difficult to answer. Can you help me ?.

My best regards.

Roberto



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