Enhanced emission during submillisecond low-energy electron beam generation in a diode with grid-stabilized plasma cathode and open anode plasma boundary
Abstract:
We have experimentally studied the phenomenon of emission enhancement in a gas-filled diode with grid-stabilized plasma cathode and open (mobile) anode plasma boundary at an accelerating voltage of up to 20 kV. As the working gas pressure is increased to $p\ge$ 10$^{-2}$ Pa and the longitudinal magnetic field is increased to $B_z\ge$ 20 mT, the current in the accelerating gap exhibits significant growth, sometimes by a factor of two or more. Experimental data show that the most probable mechanism responsible for this effect is ion-induced secondary electron emission from the emitting electrode surface bombarded by ions from plasma generated by the electron beam in the drift space. These ions are accelerated in the space charge layer between the emitting electrode surface and the mobile boundary of the beam-generated (anode) plasma.
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