Ignition of a beam-plasma discharge by electrons emitted from a ferroelectric

Abstract

It is well known that under the influence of a short voltage pulse, which changes the polarization of the pre-poled ferroelectric sample the last one emits surplus surface electric charge in a form of impulse electron beam. In this case beam current may achieve a high value. For example it is reported that the value of electron emission current density of up to 500 A/cm/sup 2/ was achieved by this way. Moreover, the repetition rate of electron current pulses of up to 2 MHz was reached. Such serious results predetermine a wide perspective of utilization of the phenomenon of electron emission from the surface of ferroelectrics in vacuum electronics and, in particular, in acceleration and SHF-equipment. But, on our opinion, the possible applications of this phenomenon are not limited by vacuum electronics. We can mention some of them: ignition of gas and gas-fuel mixtures in internal-combustion engines and fire-boxes, ignition of a beam-plasma discharge in plasma-chemical reactors and gaseous lasers, commutation operation of power gas-filled switch. With the help of published data, that refer to the electron emission from the surface of ferroelectrics, we can assume that interesting physical special features are inherent to the aforementioned gas and plasma processes, which distinguish them from similar processes involving electrons, injected by usual electron guns. These circumstances defined the purpose of this paper: receiving and investigation of ignition of gas discharge by injection of electrons emitted from a ferroelectric into a gas-discharge gap.