The static cesium pressure has been measured for various operating conditions of a cylindrical thermionic converter. The influence of this pressure on the profile of the density current along the electrodes has been studied. The steady-state output characteristic of the converter, which is related to the static drop of the cesium pressure in the magnetic field produced by the current in the converter, has been determined. In a cylindrical converter in which the electrode switching and cesium injection are carried out at the same end of the converter, the gas pressure increases in the direction away from the switching and injection end as compared with the pressure in the evaporator. The magnitude of the pressure drop is not affected by the operating conditions of the converter being governed by the total current in the circuit. The establishment of the pressure drop involves a damped oscillatory process. (AIP)

The flow of a cesium plasma in a coaxial structure with a thermionic catode is studied. Relationships are found which describe the viscous flow of the inhomogeneeus plasma. The essential features of the current profile along the structure are established. A method of determining the coefficient of dynamic viscosity is suggested. (auth)