Mechanism of cratering on the anode surface at vacuum breakdown and at irradiation of metal targets with pulsed power electron beams

On the example of 304L and 316L stainless steels, the mechanism of surface cratering on the anode at vacuum breakdown and on the metal targets at pulsed electron beam treatment has been studied. Basing on the analysis of experimental data and on numeral estimations, it has been shown that craters are formed because of radial flowing of the melt under the action of surface tension gradient caused by overheating of MnS inclusions.