Bipolar Microelectronic Device

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for modulating electric current. An electron source electrode 202 provides a flow of electrons in a partial vacuum environment 116. An ionizable gas 118 in the partial vacuum environment 116 forms positively charged ion particles in response to impact with the electrons from the electron source electrode 202. Application of a bias voltage differential between a first bias electrode 204 and a second bias electrode 206 in the partial vacuum environment 116 forms an electric field gradient in a path of the flow of electrons. A collector electrode 208 in the partial vacuum environment 116 collects more electrons than ion particles when a collector electrode input voltage 106 is above a threshold, and collects more ion particles than electrons when the collector electrode input voltage 106 is below the threshold.