The physics of electrokinetic devices applying and adapting the Child-Langmuir Law derivation for vacuum diodes
The Child-Langmuir Law describes the characteristics of a parallel plate
vacuum diode. By using this approach, we can derive a one dimensional
expression for the characteristic properties of Lifters and related
electrokinetic devices and by drawing an analogy to the vacuum diode,
gain insights into the Lifter’s subtle properties. A possible explanation
for the Biefeld-Brown effect is given for both the air and vacuum.
- Part 1: electrokinetic devices in a vacuum (PDF file)
by Leon Tribe, 16th January 2007
- Part 2: electrokinetic devices in air (PDF file)
by Leon Tribe, 18th September 2007 - UPDATED
- 1D Poisson solver for lifters (Excel spreadsheet)
Essentially this figures
out the voltage, electric field, charge density etc. numerically and then
compares it to the formulae I derived in the pdfs. 1D is limited in its use
but I've put it up with the pdf's anyhow. Feed it the parameters of the
Lifter, add in a fiddle factor for the characteristic area and it will tell
you the predicted force. For a given Lifter, the hope would be that it will
tell you what will happen if you doubled the voltage, doubled the gap,
changed the medium etc.
Leon Tribe, January 18, 2007
