Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Field Emission From a Prolate Spheroidal Tip

High resolution molecular dynamics simulations with full Coulomb interactions of electrons are used to investigate field emission from a prolate spheroidal tip. The space charge limited current is several times lower than the current calculated with the Fowler-Nordheim formula. The image-charge is taken into account with a spherical approximation, which is good around the top of the tip, i.e. region where the current is generated.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure

Effects of a series resistor on electron emission from a field emitter

Universal curves are constructed that provide an immediate determination of the effect of a series resistor on the electron emission from a field emitter. These curves are applicable to both the low current and high current regime. The effects of space charge and of the series resistor are apparent from these curves, which are applicable to a large class of materials. An example is given to illustrate their use. © 1996 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70468/2/APPLAB-69-18-2770-1.pd

Effects of an external magnetic field, and of oblique radio-frequency electric fields on multipactor discharge on a dielectric

This paper analyzes, separately, the effects of an external magnetic field, the rf magnetic field, and of an oblique rf electric field, on multipactor discharge on a dielectric. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we obtain the susceptibility diagram in terms of the magnetic field, the rf electric field, and the dc charging field for various dielectric materials. We find that a magnetic field parallel to either the rf electric field or the dc electric field does not qualitatively change the susceptibility diagram. However, an external magnetic field perpendicular to both the rf electric field and the dc electric field can significantly affect the susceptibility diagram. Thus oriented magnetic fields lower the upper susceptibility bound when the magnetic field strength is approximately equal to Bres[T] = 0.036f(GHz),Bres[T]=0.036f(GHz), where f is the rf frequency. Both the lower and upper susceptibility boundary may be raised significantly by a large external magnetic field, B≫Bres.B≫Bres. Susceptibility to single surface multipactor is greatest when the rf electric field is nearly parallel to the dielectric, but is dramatically decreased for angles of obliqueness greater than approximately 5°–10°. The rf magnetic field does not affect the lower boundary, but may extend the upper boundary greatly. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70933/2/PHPAEN-7-2-750-1.pd

Multipactor discharge on metals and dielectrics: Historical review and recent theories

This paper reviews the history of multipactor discharge theory, focusing on recent models of multipactor accessibility and saturation. Two cases are treated in detail: That of a first-order, two-surface multipactor, and that of a single-surface multipactor on a dielectric. In both cases, susceptibility curves are constructed to indicate the regions of external parameter space where multipactor is likely to occur, taking into account the dependence on surface materials, and the effects of space charge and cavity loading. In the case of a dielectric, multipactor is found to deliver about 1% of the rf power to the surface. The two cases are contrasted in light of experimental observations. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71019/2/PHPAEN-5-5-2120-1.pd

Multipactor experiment on a dielectric surface

A novel experiment to investigate single-surface multipactor on a dielectric surface was developed and tested. The compact apparatus consists of a small brass microwave cavity in a high vacuum system. The cavity is ∼15 cm in length with an outer diameter of ∼10 cm. A pulsed variable frequency microwave source at ∼2.4 GHz, 2 kW peak excites the TE111TE111 mode with a strong electric field parallel to a dielectric plate (∼0.2 cm thickness) that is inserted at midlength of the cavity. The microwave pulses are monitored by calibrated microwave diodes. An electron probe measures electron current and provides temporal measurements of the multipactor electron current with respect to the microwave pulses. Phosphor on the dielectric surface is used to detect multipactor electrons by photoemission. The motivation of this experiment is to test recent theoretical calculations of single-surface multipactor on a dielectric. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71183/2/RSINAK-72-7-3095-1.pd