Effect of Intensified Emission During the Generation of a Submillisecond Low-Energy Electron Beam in a Plasma-Cathode Diode

The effect of the intensification of electron emission in a plasma-cathode diode with a grid-stabilized plasma boundary has been investigated. For a pulsed (100-mus) electron beam of 15-20-keV energy that passes through the plasma formed as a result of gas ionization by an electron beam, it has been revealed that an increase in pressure increases the emission current at a fixed plasma-cathode discharge current, and the emission current can become greater in magnitude than the discharge current. It has been shown that a significant increase in electron-beam current is provided by the secondary ion-electron emission that results from the bombardment of the emission electrode surface by the accelerated ions coming from the boundary of the anode plasma.