On relativistic space charge limited current in planar, cylindrical, and spherical diodes

Abstract

This paper revisits the relativistic limiting current in planar, cylindrical, and spherical diodes, with alternative analytic and numerical treatments which are easy to implement. Convenient, approximate expressions for the limited current are presented for gap voltages up to 10 MV. They are accurate to within 1% for planar diode, and to within 4% for both cylindrical and spherical diode in the range 10−5<rc/ra<500, where ra and rc are, respectively, the anode and cathode radius.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2016
Source ID
10.1063/1.4954827

Entities

People

  • A. D. Greenwood
  • J. F. Hammond
  • Peng Zhang
  • Y. Y. Lau

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Air Force Research Laboratory
  • University of Michigan

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Semiconductor Device Technology

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster