CONTRIBUTION TO THE THEORY OF A NON-SELF-SUSTAINED LOW-VOLTAGE ARC DISCHARGE.

The current-voltage characteristics and the components of the internal voltage drop are calculated, in the approximation of a constant plasma electron temperature, for a thermionic converter with a self-sustained discharge in cesium or with an external source which ionizes atoms and heats electrons, for two different emitter temperatures: 1440 and 1830 K. The results show that using an external source of ionization reduces the voltage drop in the interelectrode gap by approximately 0. 1 V, taking into account ionization losses. The heating of electrons is inefficient. For a further reduction of voltage losses ways must be found to decrease Coulomb scattering of electrons by ions.