The Non-Stationary Metal Vapour Arc

Abstract

AbstractThe motion is depicted as a sequence of steps of a finite residence time.The spot motion affects essentially only the energy characteristics Te which in comparison to the stationary characteristics Tes are shifted to smaller values. Hereby the critical currents I0, I1 are raised in comparison to the corresponding stationary limits I0s, I1s. Particularly attractive are the phenomena found in connection with the dependence of the spot velocity ʋ on the spot current I. If the spot velocity increases with the spot current stronger than ʋ ∞ I1/2 then the E-diagram reveals the existence of an upper limit lu for the spot current. This result can be used to explain qualitatively the experimentally observed phenomena of "spot multiplicity" and “spot extinction”.Quantitative conclusions are obstructed by the lack of knowledge about the velocity dependence on the spot current, ʋ(I). Experimental and theoretical studies to provide a better understanding of the physical background and the analytical laws describing the motion of the cathode spots are urgently needed.