  This paper describes the construction and optimization of a Langmuir-Taylor
detector for lithium, using a rhenium ribbon. The absolute detection
probability of this very sensitive detector is measured and the dependence of
this probability with oxygen pressure and surface temperature is studied.
Sources of background signal and their minimization are also discussed in
details. And a comparison between our data concerning the response time of the
detector and literature values is given. A theoretical analysis has been made:
this analysis supports the validity of the Saha-Langmuir law to relate the
ionization probability to the work function. Finally, the rapid variations of
the work function with oxygen pressure and temperature are explained by a
chemical equilibrium model.
