Low-Current Vacuum Arcs With Short Arc Length in Magnetic Fields of Different Orientations: A Review

Investigations, carried out in recent years, of such characteristics of short-length low-current vacuum arcs as the mean current, conducted by the cathode spot; direction and velocity 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, recent spectroscopic investigations of the column of the arc stabilized by a magnetic field normal to the cathode surface are discussed.