Theoretical analysis of space-homogeneous plasma heating by explosive emission current

Emission properties of the explosive-emission cathode depend primarily on parameters of the cathode plasma. The state of the plasma is determined both by the conditions of its formation-processes at the cathode surface, and by the heating of plasma with emission current. Such a heating affects the plasma ionization state and, consequently, its emission ability which might, in turn, change current flow conditions in the diode. In the present work, the problem of heating of spatially homogeneous plasma by the emission current was treated taking into account ionization and recombination processes, with the purpose of elucidating conditions under which the cathode plasma parameters are significantly affected by the emission current.