The effect of plasma-generating gas pressure on the parameters of activated thermionic cathode

The effect of argon and krypton pressure on the characteristics of a rod cathode of thoriated tungsten in a stationary arc discharge is investigated. The dependences of basic integral parameters of cathode are measured, such as the heat flux to electrode, the electron work function, the temperature, the current density, and the specific erosion at current loads of $20$–$150$ A in the pressure range of $2.66 \times 10^3$–$10^5$ Pa. The significant effect of pressure on the level of specific erosion of cathode is observed.