Potential Distribution between two Plane Emitting Electrodes II. Thermionic Engines

Abstract

This paper gives expressions for the potential distribution between two plane parallel emitting electrodes, extending the work of a previous paper (Lindsay and Parker 1959). It is shown that all potential distributions can be represented by a two-parameter family of curves, the parameters being the ratio of the electrode temperatures θ=T₂/T₁ and a constant A which depends on 6 and on the potentials and work functions of the two electrodes (A reduces to the parameter of Lindsay and Parker (1959) for θ=1). The results show rather clearly the relative influence of all these quantities on the position and depth of the potential minimum between the electrodes.