Effect of the anode fall on the electron density balance in anode plasma with electric double layer

The depth of a potential well in anode plasma with electric double layer was measured in a nonstationary regime and was found to exhibit chaotic oscillations. It is concluded that the anode fall plays the role of a valve controlling the concentration of electrons trapped in the anode plasma. The measurements were performed using a multigrid electron energy analyzer under the conditions when the floating potential in front of the anode passed through a certain level. The distribution of the potential well depths was studied. The most probable values fall within an interval from 3 to 6 V. Substitution of the obtained values into the average electron density balance equation provides satisfactory agreement in the order of magnitude of the electron density. (C) 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc.