Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 December 2009
The effect of a uniformly distributed, immobile, charged particle background on the stationary states of a plasma diode with beam electrons is studied. Whereas a positively charged particle background results in an increase of the space-charge limit of the electron current across the diode and brings in new branches of equilibria, a negatively charged background decreases the current up to zero current level due to a complete reflection of beam electrons within the diode region. This effect can be used for the design of fast switches.