Abstract
The near-cathode potential drop uK is studied in a high-voltage high-current (U=20–40 kV, i=100–500 A) vacuum diode with a cathode operating under explosive emission of electrons. The magnitude of UK is estimated from oscillograms of the probe current under conditions of breakdown of the layer between the probe and the cathode-flare plasma. It is shown that uK is the same order of magnitude as the near-cathode potential drop in vacuum arcs. UK does not change greatly when there are sharp rises in diode current, indicating that oscillations in diode current are probably related to processes at the boundary for drawing of electrons from the flare plasma.
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