Ionization Processes in the Arc Plasma of W-fuzz Cathodes

A model is proposed for investigation of the ionization processes in a plasma jet emitted by a cathode spot cell of W-fuzz cathodes. It was shown that the introduction of helium atoms and the associated change in the morphology of the surface of the tungsten cathode leads to a significant change in the parameters of the arc plasma: a sharp decrease in the electron temperature and the mean charge state of tungsten ions.