Abstract
A new type of ion–electron source, based on a gas discharge in a diode with concave cathode and a special type of hollow anode, is presented. In this type of discharge, the maximum plasma density is localized at the exit aperture. Constant hydrogen ion currents in excess of 1 mA have been obtained with a 1-mm-diam exit aperture and an extraction voltage of 3 kV. The power supplied to the source, whose volume is less than 0.5 cm3, is only a few watts.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: