Charged-particle oscillation in direct current voltage biased plane-parallel conductors

Abstract

The phenomenon of charged-particle oscillation in DC voltage biased plane-parallel conductors is discussed. Traditionally accepted mechanism for explaining the oscillatory behavior of charged particles in such system attributes the phenomenon to a process of charge exchange, which takes place when charged-particle is in close proximity to one of the electrodes. A novel finding here reveals that for microscopic or smaller particles under special circumstances, charged-particle oscillation does not involve charge exchanges. Such system radiates and the frequency of emitted radiation is controlled by a DC voltage biased across the two plane-parallel electrodes. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.