Effect of surface and volume ionization on the electrode potential drop

We consider the change in the potential of the electric field in the “free fall” layer at the electrodes as a function of the characteristics of the surface and the volume ionization. Systematic calculations are made of the electrode potential drop for a tungsten cathode and anode in a lithium and cesium plasma. The potential of the electric field is obtained as a function of the plasma pressure, the degree of volume ionization, the electron temperature, the electrode temperature, and the current density.