Modeling vacuum arcs in linac structures

Abstract

We describe our vacuum arc model, which divides breakdown into four stages: trigger, plasma formation, plasma evolution and surface damage. We have modeled all four stages numerically and find that the properties of surface cracks and unipolar arcs can explain essentially all the experimental data we have seen. In addition to linac breakdown, the model should apply to arcs in a wide variety of applications, such as laser ablation, tokamak edge plasmas and micrometeorite impacts. We also outline differences with other work.