Progress in Plasma Processing of Materials, 1997

ISBN Print: 1-56700-093-2

OBSERVATIONS OF THE ARC SPOT ON THE ELECTRIC ARC CATHODE SURFACE

DOI: 10.1615/ITPPC-1996.40
pages 25-32

Resumo

CCD camera images of the near-cathode region of an electric arc, working at atmospheric pressure in argon, permitted to observe some phenomena that take place in this region, e.g., a "dark zone" in the cathode sheath region, low-frequency (f < O.1 Hz) fluctuations of discharge parameters and emitted light, the existence of several hot spots on the cathode surface, different kinds of movements of the arc spot on the cathode surface, and modification of the cathode surface structure.