How small is the electrode gap in a vacuum thermionic converter?

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thermionic power converter Schematic of a basic thermionic converter.

In a vacuum thermionic power converter, the gap between the emitter and collector electrodes is kept extremely small to minimize the disruptive effects of electronic space-charge. Typically, this spacing is between 0.025 and 0.038 mm (0.001 to 0.0015 inch).1

Because maintaining such narrow gaps is difficult to achieve in manufacturing, vacuum converters have seen only limited practical application compared to gas-filled or plasma-based alternatives.1