Alternative model of space-charge-limited thermionic current flow through a plasma

Campanell, M. D.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.97.043207

Title: Alternative model of space-charge-limited thermionic current flow through a plasma

Journal Article · Thu Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Physical Review E

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.97.043207· OSTI ID:1438688

Campanell, M. D. ^[1]

Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

It is widely assumed that thermionic current flow through a plasma is limited by a “space-charge-limited” (SCL) cathode sheath that consumes the hot cathode's negative bias and accelerates upstream ions into the cathode. In this paper, we formulate a fundamentally different current-limited mode. In the “inverse” mode, the potentials of both electrodes are above the plasma potential, so that the plasma ions are confined. The bias is consumed by the anode sheath. There is no potential gradient in the neutral plasma region from resistivity or presheath. The inverse cathode sheath pulls some thermoelectrons back to the cathode, thereby limiting the circuit current. Thermoelectrons entering the zero-field plasma region that undergo collisions may also be sent back to the cathode, further attenuating the circuit current. In planar geometry, the plasma density is shown to vary linearly across the electrode gap. A continuum kinetic planar plasma diode simulation model is set up to compare the properties of current modes with classical, conventional SCL, and inverse cathode sheaths. SCL modes can exist only if charge-exchange collisions are turned off in the potential well of the virtual cathode to prevent ion trapping. With the collisions, the current-limited equilibrium must be inverse. Inverse operating modes should therefore be present or possible in many plasma devices that rely on hot cathodes. Evidence from past experiments is discussed. Finally, the inverse mode may offer opportunities to minimize sputtering and power consumption that were not previously explored due to the common assumption of SCL sheaths.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1438688

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1433765

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-740249; TRN: US1900486

Journal Information:: Physical Review E, Vol. 97, Issue 4; ISSN 2470-0045

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 15 works

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