An approximate formula is developed for the current of a parallel-plane diode including the effects of initial velocities of emission. For an oxide-coated cathode (

°K) the approximate result is:
![J = 2.33 \\times 10^{-6} frac{V^{3/2}}{x^{2}} \\cdot[1 + frac{11.4(J_{s}x^{2})^{1/4}}{V^{3/4}} + frac{3.22(J_{s}x^{2})^{1/8}}{V^{3/2}}]](/images/tex/15743.gif)
where,

, J
s, and

are in suitable units such that Jx
2and

are in amperes and V in volts. A comparison is made between this result, Child\´s 3/2 power solution, and the Epstein-Fry-Langmuir solution. The result given above being an explicit solution of the current is particularly advantageous over prior approximate solutions.