Ecton processes at the cathode in a vacuum discharge

Explosive electron emission from a metal has been shown to involve not individual electrons but electron bunches or avalanches named "ectons". Ectons play a fundamental part in the cathode spots of vacuum arcs and sparks. They are initiated due to energy concentrations in cathode microvolumes. Mathematical simulation of ectons has been performed using MHD and similarity methods. Based on the ecton model, the vacuum arc parameters, such as the mass per unit charge lost by the cathode, the current density, the specific force, the pressure on the cathode, the liquid metal scattering velocity, the threshold current, and plasma pressure in the cathode spot have been calculated.