INVESTIGATION OF THE MONOCAPILLARY THERMIONIC EMITTER AS A DUAL SOURCE OF IONS AND ELECTRONS. Fifth Quarterly Technical Progress Report for the Period February 15-May 15, 1963

Technical Report · Sat Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1963

OSTI ID:4661966

Dresser, D L; Dunlop, J D; Schneider, R T

Experimental data are reported on a multicapillary converter, Converter G, which operated for over 300 hours. Several types of data were obtained including: currentvoltage characteristics for the temperature range from 1800 to 2100 deg K, high-frequency oscillations, ion current measurements, and spectroscopic data. It is shown that the data in the temperature range from 1800 to 2100 deg K agree with the random current model of the capillary emitter. For operation at 2000 and 2100 deg K the data indicate several competitive advantages over conventional converters, including wider electrode spacings, higher converter voltage, and lower cesium bath temperature. The high frequency oscillation data show that the peak current-voltage points form an arc mode characteristic. The ion currents at high collector temperature appear to be due to cesium atoms evaporating from the collector and impinging on the emitter surface. Spectrographic data indicate elevated electron temperatures in the arc mode. When high frequency oscillations are present in the passive mode, the line intensities of lower energy excited states are increased. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Motors Corp. Allison Div., Indianapolis
• NSA Number: NSA-17-036372
• OSTI ID: 4661966
• Report Number(s): AD-410495; EDR-3390
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ATOMS
CAPILLARIES
CESIUM
CONFIGURATION
CONVERSION
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRODES
ELECTRONS
EMISSION
ENERGY
ENERGY LEVELS
EVAPORATION
EXCITATION
FREQUENCY
IONS
LIQUID METALS
MEASURED VALUES
OPERATION
OSCILLATIONS
PHYSICS
SPECTROSCOPY
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE
THERMIONICS