Study of Plasma Sheaths.

Abstract

Results obtained from a study of current-voltage characteristics of gas diodes with and without positive ion injection are reported. It was found that ions are very effective in neutralizing the negative space-charge barrier in front of the thermionic emitter. Pulsed ion injection studies showed that the rate of loss of positive ions from the barrier region decreases with increasing barrier height and decreasing diffusion coefficient of the injected ions. These results were consistent with those obtained during the steady state studies. A theoretical model of a gas diode with and without ion injection was constructed. This model was numerically solved for a gas diode without ion injection for various experimental conditions. The results obtained indicate the desirability to extend the calculations to a gas diode with ion injection in order to explain the observed large space-charge neutralization efficiencies of the injected ions. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0736462

Entities

People

  • Hendrik J. Oskam
  • James L. Peng

Organizations

  • University of Minnesota

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Coefficients
  • Diffusion
  • Diffusion Coefficient
  • Efficiency
  • Neutralization
  • Plasma Sheaths
  • Space Charge
  • Steady State

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster