The influence of cathode standing waves on valve stability

Abstract

While a cathode emits more electrons than are required to supply the current demanded by other electrodes, it was generally accepted that the current cannot change appreciably with cathode temperature. Considerations of the current drawn by fixed electrode potentials, during change of cathode activation, have subsequently accepted a change in emitted electron energy spectrum as a cause of small current changes, since the change in potential depression in the virtual cathode cannot entirely compensate for the altered emission. Thus the present conception is of a smooth current variation with activation (temperature). The paper shows how standing waves in the virtual cathode tend to modify this simple model.