ISSN:
1089-7550
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
A steady-state model of a low-pressure Cs-Ba discharge is developed. It calculates the plasma density, electron temperature, Cs atom densities, and output voltage, assuming uniform conditions across the discharge gap and neglecting radiation losses. The model predictions are in good agreement with experimental data for a low-pressure Cs discharge. Comparing the model to experimental data from a Cs-Ba diode reinforce the validity of the system of equations and also confirms the assumption that barium has practically no effect on the current transport characteristics. The calculated I-V curves for the Cs-Ba diode match well with the experimental data below the emission current; however, above the emission current the calculated currents are much lower. This difference occurs when the model incorporates normal Schottky emission instead of anomalous Schottky. The effect of the latter is determined from estimates of the effective changes in the emitter work function for agreement between the model and experiments at high discharge currents. For such currents, results suggest that changing the Cs pressure strongly affects the anomalous Schottky emission, while changes in the Ba pressure seem to have a negligible effect.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.355232
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