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arXiv · 2006.16207

Enhanced space charge limited current for curved electron emitters

Gaurav Singh·Raghwendra Kumar·Debabrata Biswas
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Abstract

The maximum current that can be transported across a vacuum diode is limited by forces arising due to space charge. In a planar diode configuration, the space charge limited (SCL) current density from a planar emitting patch is given by the Child-Langmuir (CL) law $J_{CL} \sim V_g^{3/2}/D^2$ where $V_g$ is the potential difference across the diode and $D$ is the separation between the anode and cathode. We show here analytically using the nonlinear line charge model that for a curved emitter in a planar diode configuration, the limiting current obeys the scaling relationship $J_{SCL} \sim \gamma_a V_g^{3/2}/D^2$ where $\gamma_a$ is the apex field enhancement factor of the curved emitter. For an emitter with large height ($h$) to apex radius of curvature ($R_a$) ratio, the limiting current far exceeds the planar value. The result is verified using the particle-in-cell code PASUPAT for two curved emitters shapes.

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Gaurav Singh, Raghwendra Kumar, Debabrata Biswas. 2020-06-29. Enhanced space charge limited current for curved electron emitters. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0028007

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