Numerical Investigation of the Effect of the Cathode Geometry on the Characteristics of an Electric Arc

The effect of the cathode geometry on the characteristics of an electric arc is treated. It is found that the characteristics of plasma in discharges with cathodes of different geometry (cone, sphere, cylinder) are almost the same on condition of equality of the areas of current-conducting surfaces. It is assumed that a ring-shaped arc discharge may be realized in the case of axisymmetric arc spot on the external side surface of a cylindrical cathode.