Some features of imaging of the processes occurring in an extended arc discharge in atmospheric-pressure air

Processes occurring in the low-temperature plasma of extended quasi-stationary arc discharges in air between graphite electrodes are investigated. Along with the conventional (constricted) discharge geometry, other discharge modes—diffuse (distributed) and diffuse-constricted—are studied. Contraction, stratification, and shunting processes are considered. Current oscillation modes are revealed that are caused by the interaction between the cathode and anode jets and the origination of plasma jets and solid particles from the locally overheated anode surface. 1 The use of graphite electrodes with standard atmospheric pressure excludes the presence of the liquid phase in the electrode spots