Electricity in a Vacuum: Investigating 1e9 Voltage

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the effects of applying a voltage of 1e9 volts across two electrodes placed 1 cm apart in a vacuum. Participants explore the implications of electric field strength, potential vacuum breakdown, and the conditions necessary for such phenomena.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant calculates the electric field strength to be 1e11 V/m and suggests that sustaining this field strength would be challenging, referencing personal experience with lower field strengths.
  • Concerns are raised about the possibility of vacuum breakdown and whether the application of such a high voltage could lead to the generation of charged particles.
  • Another participant emphasizes that vacuum breakdown is not analogous to dielectric breakdown and notes that residual gases in the vacuum play a significant role in this process.
  • Participants express confusion regarding the clarity of some posts, indicating a need for more detailed explanations to facilitate understanding.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the conditions under which vacuum breakdown occurs or the implications of applying such a high voltage in a vacuum. Multiple competing views and uncertainties remain regarding the mechanisms involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the importance of residual gases in the vacuum and the challenges of sustaining high electric field strengths, but do not resolve the specific conditions required for vacuum breakdown.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying high-voltage physics, vacuum technology, and the behavior of electric fields in low-pressure environments.

jaiii
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Good day.

What happens if a vacuum to put two electrodes, 1 cm apart, and electrical voltage in 1e9?

Thank you.
 
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Then your electric field strength is 1e9/1e-2 = 1e11 V/m. You probably cannot sustain this field strength without heroic efforts.

I have done a lot of work about 1e7 V/m ... if increased much beyond that my electron source arcs. This is not much better than dry air, even though it is in an ultrahigh vacuum (10^-9 torr).

This paper discusses many of the issues (1978):
http://cartan.e-moka.net/content/download/409/2311/file/ptv.pdf

But perhaps you mean "will it break the vacuum"? Such as this laser system may one day attempt:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8857154/Worlds-most-powerful-laser-to-tear-apart-the-vacuum-of-space.html
 
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All right.

But it may happen that the vacuum breaks.
And the gap will be trips charged particles?
 
jaiii said:
But it may happen that the vacuum breaks.
And the gap will be trips charged particles?

Say again, please?
 
I don't understand.
 
jaiii said:
I don't understand.

What you wrote here makes no sense. It is difficult to figure what you are asking:

jaiii said:
But it may happen that the vacuum breaks.
And the gap will be trips charged particles?

English may not be your first language. However, this means that you need to write down a bit more explanation for the rest of us to understand what you are saying. So far, in your first three posts here, you have written quite a bit LESS than the one single post UltrafastPED made in Msg. #2.

Zz.
 
Fain.

One can break through vacuum, and what conditions must be fulfilled in doing?
 
jaiii said:
Fain.

What?

One can break through vacuum, and what conditions must be fulfilled in doing?

Please note that while it is often referred to as "vacuum breakdown", we are not really causing something similar to a dielectric breakdown in vacuum. From what we know now, the mechanism still requires the presence of residual gasses in the "vacuum".

Read this thread:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=744778

Zz.
 

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