Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 September 2013
A kinetic theory of the Debye sheath in the Tonks–Langmuir model of the plasma-wall transition layer with hot neutrals is presented. The plasma, consisting of Boltzmann-distributed electrons and singly charged ions, is in contact with an absorbing negative wall. Dependencies of electric-potential characteristics on neutrals temperature are investigated for the first time. The results can be generalized to other sheath models.