Model for explosive electron emission in a pseudospark ‘‘superdense glow’’

Abstract

The pseudospark cathode has the remarkable property of macroscopically homogeneous electron emission at very high current density (>1 kA/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$) over a large area (some ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$). Experimental results and the model presented here provide evidence that the pseudospark microscopically utilizes explosive arc processes, as distinct from the earlier model [Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 2371 (1988)].