Field-Emission-Induced Terahertz Plasma Waves and Instabilities in Microdischarges
Abstract
This Letter reports the simultaneous excitation of two terahertz plasma waves in field-emission-driven microdischarges. As demonstrated by first-principle particle-in-cell simulations, we reveal that one wave results from intermittent field emission due to space-charge effects, while the other arises from a two-stream instability between cathode field-emission electrons and anode multipactor electrons, which can trap less energetic electrons, leading to circumnutation trajectories and increased collisionality. A dispersion relation is derived from fluid equations, showing good agreement with the simulated wave parameters. The findings of this Letter provide a foundation and potential pathway for designing novel terahertz sources at miniaturized scales.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Terahertz technology and applications
Dust and Plasma Wave Phenomena
Gyrotron and Vacuum Electronics Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review Letters
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Volume
- 136
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 075001–075001
- Publication date
- 28 January 2026
- Language
- EN