Short low-current vacuum arc in magnetic fields of different orientations. A review

摘要

Investigations, carried out in recent years, of such characteristics of short low-current vacuum arcs as the average current, passed by the cathode spot; velocity and direction of motion of the spot; and arc voltage as a function of magnitude of the magnetic field vector and the angle of its inclination to the arc axis are discussed. Also are discussed recent spectroscopic investigations of the channel of the arc stabilized by a magnetic field normal to the cathode.