Electron emission from a cathode doped by fast particles of a working gas

The effect of fast charged and neutral particles on the emission properties of different materials is investigated. In many plasma devices, a flux of fast atoms and ions produces a specific self-sustained state of the layer near the cathode surface. In particular, this layer is saturated by working gas atoms to a depth of several monolayers. This state variously modifies different types of emission. Potential emission, taking place under the action of metastable atoms and ions, weakens because of a rise in the work function. On the contrary, kinetic emission, which is due to fast heavy particles, is enhanced, since energy losses in the modified near-surface layer increase. Photoemission resulting under the action of resonance radiation increases considerably, and its mechanism changes.