Time-dependent plasma systems and methods for thermionic conversion

A thermionic energy converter comprising:

• a hermetic package charged with a non-cesium gas additive including a non-noble molecular gas, wherein the non-noble molecular gas includes at least one of SF6 or XeF6;
• a cesium reservoir disposed in the hermetic package;
• a cathode disposed in the hermetic package;
• an anode disposed in the hermetic package;
• and
• electronic circuitry configured to generate pulses for igniting plasma in the hermetic package.

A thermionic energy converter comprising:

• a hermetic package charged with a non-cesium gas additive;
• a cesium reservoir disposed in the hermetic package;
• a cathode disposed in the hermetic package;
• an anode disposed in the hermetic package;
• and
• electronic circuitry configured to generate pulses for igniting plasma in the hermetic package, wherein the pulses include a first voltage selected to ionize the cesium.

A thermionic energy converter comprising:

• a hermetic package charged with a non-cesium gas additive;
• a cesium reservoir disposed in the hermetic package;
• a cathode disposed in the hermetic package;
• an anode disposed in the hermetic package;
• and
• electronic circuitry configured to generate pulses for igniting plasma in the hermetic package, wherein the pulses include s a second voltage selected to ionize the cesium and the non-cesium gas additive.

A thermionic energy converter comprising:

• a hermetic package charged with a non-cesium gas additive;
• a cesium reservoir disposed in the hermetic package;
• a cathode disposed in the hermetic package,
• an anode disposed in the hermetic package;
• and
• electronic circuitry configured to generate pulses for igniting plasma in the hermetic package,
• wherein an electrode chosen from the cathode and the anode is electrically switchable between the pulses and a load.

A thermionic energy converter comprising:

• a hermetic package charged with a non-cesium gas additive;
• a cesium reservoir disposed in the hermetic package;
• a cathode disposed in the hermetic package;
• an anode disposed in the hermetic package, and
• electronic circuitry configured to generate pulses for igniting plasma in the hermetic package, and having a pulse width less than 1 microsecond.