Grid current control in the unstable mode of plasma discharge

Abstract

The paper presents the results of studies of the effect of grid current control of triode cesium-barium vapor modulator in the unstable mode of plasma discharge. The possibility of effective modulation of the current due to the development of nonlinear plasma structures formed during the excitation of the electronic instability of Bursian-Pierce is discovered. It is shown that in this mode, in the interelectrode gap, a potential distribution with a virtual cathode is formed, leading to a break of the electron current. In this case, the current in the triode changes almost instantaneously, since the process of the formation of a virtual cathode proceeds over a time of the order of the electron travel time through the gap. This is especially important for the successful practical application of triode modulators. The achieved high transient rates had a positive effect on the efficiency and frequency characteristics of the device. A high electric strength has been implemented, which allows to keep the triode in the locked state after a current break for a long time.