Nonlinear oscillations in a Bursian diode with a time-dependent external voltage

Time-dependent processes developing in a vacuum diode with an electron flow when a sinusoidal perturbation is added to the constant potential difference applied between the electrodes have been studied. It is established that an oscillatory process with a period determined by the frequency of the external perturbation develops in the diode plasma. Three fundamentally different modes of oscillation generation have been found, depending on the amplitude of the external voltage. It is shown that plasma dynamics in these modes is closely related to stationary solutions, which correspond to the collector potential value at various time moments.