RESEARCH ON CESIUM-VAPOR CELLS EMPLOYING CARBIDE CATHODES
Abstract
The performance of cesium thermionic cells employing carbide cathodes is being studied. Vacuum emission studies were made on cathode materials containing ZrC and UC of various proportions. A cathode of ZrC0.80 - UC0.20 solid solution was installed in a cesium thermionic diode and studies were made of the electrical output characteristics, ion generation mechanism, and effective electron temperatures at various cesium pressures. From the measurements made on high-UC-content carbide samples, the thermionic emission characteristics were determined to closely approximate the published results for pure UC samples. Some of the results obtained using low-U -content emitters fell below the values observed in other laboratories. The performance characteristics of cesium cells employing carbide cathodes are fairly well identified and understood for intermediateto-low cesium pressures 1/10,000 mm Hg and below) and low cathode temperatures. However, for higher pressures and cathode temperatures above 2000 K, the mechanisms of operation appear to be complex. There is preliminary evidence that interelectrode spacing will strongly influence the operation of high-power-density converters. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 07, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0256485
Entities
People
- H.l. Garvin
- R.w. Pidd
Organizations
- General Dynamics