ARC Discharge in Synthesis of Fullerenes

For the first time, under fullerene synthesis conditions a quasiperiodic space-time structure of the arc and a correlation of plasma brightness pulsations with the change in the electrical parameters of the discharge are found, which can be attributable to superheating instability and unsteady transfer of carbon particles to the plasma. The mechanism of cathode coating formation is discussed. The spatial distribution of the radiation of the spectral components of the arc plasma is studied and radial temperature profiles are determined that presumably belong to the steady mode of discharge.