Initial kinetics of electrons, ions and electric field in planar vacuum diode with plasma cathode

Abstract

Abstract The paper presents the results of a 1D1V theoretical study of the initial stage of plasma expansion into a planar vacuum gap 1 cm long with an applied voltage of 500–5000 V. Based on the collisionless kinetic and Maxwell equations, the motion of a two-component electron–ion plasma in a self-consistent electric field is described. The fundamental mechanism of ‘superthermal’ velocities of the emission edge of the plasma and anode-directed velocities of positive ions is demonstrated in detail. The general regularities of this process are established for variations in the number density of the initial plasma and the applied voltage.