Synchronization of THz space-charge oscillation in arrays of vacuum microdiodes

Summary form only given. Simulations have shown that space-charge effects can lead to regular modulation of photoemitted beams in vacuum diodes with gaps size on the order of 1μm and accelerating voltage on the order of 1V¹. These modulations are in the THz regime and can be tuned by simply changing the emitter area or accelerating vacuum field². The average current in the diode corresponds to the Child-Langmuir current, but the amplitude of the socillations is affected by various factors. Given the small size and voltage of the system, the maximum radiated AC power is expected to be small. In this work we show that an array of small emitters produces higher frequency signals than a single large emitter of same area, and how these emitters may be synchronized to produce higher power signals. We also present some results on beam structure from such arrays and possibility of how to control it.