Electron and ion flows in diodes

The three subjects, small size diodes (1 mm) in order to generate very large ion current density, medium size diodes (10 cm) for efficient ion beam generation via the Pinch Reflex Diode, and large diodes (approx. 1 m) were the principal areas investigated and are concentrated on in this report. In particular, this report explains the physics of the backscatter diode and how a runaway phenomenon can generate very large current density ion beams which could be used in beam target studies. There follows an examination of the physics of how anode plasmas are generated using various materials and the question of electron flow in a pinch-reflex diode (PRD). The report ends with a review of the role of electron and ion flows in large area diodes driving plasma loads.