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The Child–Langmuir asymptotics applied to a bipolar diode
Author(s) -
Méhats Florian
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
mathematical methods in the applied sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.719
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1099-1476
pISSN - 0170-4214
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1476(199808)21:12<1115::aid-mma988>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - diode , langmuir , langmuir probe , plasma , step recovery diode , physics , atomic physics , mechanics , chemistry , schottky diode , quantum mechanics , plasma diagnostics , adsorption
We apply the Child–Langmuir asymptotics of the Vlasov–Poisson system to the case of a bipolar diode, i.e. a vacuum diode where two species of particles of opposite electric charge are flowing. This leads to a simplified model which, if at least one of the two injected currents is not too large, has a unique solution. Moreover, in that case, the currents flowing inside the diode are limited by the so‐called bipolar Child–Langmuir currents. In the case of large currents, other solutions may appear, and the formation of virtual electrodes may occur inside the diode. © 1998 B. G. Teubner Stuttgart—John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.