This paper describes an experimental investigation of the dependence of the space-charge smoothing factor on valve geometry. It is found that if A is expressed as a function of the ratio between barrier-to-anode potential and mean emission energy (expressed in volts), A is independent of valve geometry. The results are compared with several hypotheses and the discrepancies noted. The various hypotheses, and the relations between them, are discussed in some detail. A spurious effect, of unknown origin, appears to enter when A ???????? 0.1, and further experiments are suggested.
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