标题： 由虚拟阴极中的俘获离子实现的传统空间电荷限制之外的热离子电流 显示英文标题

标题： Thermionic Current Beyond the Traditional Space Charge Limit Enabled by Trapped Ions in the Virtual Cathode

摘要： 我们证明了虚拟阴极中的离子俘获可以使发射电子的传输电流比没有被困离子的理论预测值更接近于完全发射。 传输电流受势阱电压控制，其数值必须调整以平衡势阱内低能离子的产生及其泄漏。 我们的模型量化了这些速率，并根据系统参数推导出几种几何结构下阴极发射到等离子体中的电流。 一个普遍的预测是，电流作为发射通量的函数不会饱和在传统的空间电荷限制（势阱的出现）上，而是可以达到远更高的值。 通过合适地优化被困离子的平衡，在热阴极的等离子体技术中可能会实现性能的提升。 显示英文摘要

摘要： We show that ion trapping in virtual cathodes can raise the transmitted current of emitted electrons much closer to the full emission than is predicted by theories without trapped ions. The transmitted current is controlled by the well voltage whose value must adjust to balance the creation of low-energy ions within the well, and their leakage over the well. Our model quantifies these rates and derives the current in terms of system parameters for cathode emission into a plasma in several geometries. A general prediction is that the current as a function of emitted flux does not saturate at the traditional space charge limit (the onset of a well) but can reach far higher values. Improved performance might be achieved in plasma technologies with hot cathodes through suitable optimization of the trapped ion balance.