Mechanism of current redistribution between jets in a double-jet electric arc

Characteristics of a double-jet electric arc have been determined by numerical simulation of magnetogasdynamics with allowance for a nonequilibrium character of the ionization-recombination processes and temperature in argon plasma. It is established that the anode and cathode jets play the roles of plasma electrodes, along which the character of arc discharge changes from self-sustained to non-self-sustained.