AN ELECTRON STEAM INSTABILITY
Abstract
The dynamic behavior beyond the limit for the stream flowing between and normal to infinite parallel-plane electrodes is treated. The model used to approximate the multivelocity stream consists of a large number of charges which are injected one at a time into the diode and are allowed to move under the influence of their own electric fields and that of the electrodes. The trajectories of the sheets, voltages, currents, and energies were calculated with the help of a digital computer. For streams of finite cross section, circular or rectangular, the static solutions are obtained for the stream flowing normal to infinite parallel plane electrodes. The dynamic behavior obtained is offered to explain some of the effects observed in lownoise microwave tubes and plasma diodes, and is proposed as a fast switching circuit. The peak in diode shot noise at the plasma frequency of the cathode potential minimum appears as the oscillation frequency of the diode treated here. The stream dynamic behavior, considered as a change of state at limiting, is proposed as a two state switching element for nanosecond or shorter rates, with possible computer applications. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0284291
Entities
People
- C.k. Birdsall
- W.b. Bridges
Organizations
- University of California, Berkeley