An Investigation of Regular Patterns of the Anode Spot Glow in a High-Current Vacuum Arc by the Method of High-Speed Photography

Abstract

The evolution of an anode spot is investigated in the course of burning of a high-current vacuum arc. The evolution process is recorded with a high-speed video camera at a rate of 180 thousand frames per second and with a high-speed 4-channel photo camera, which is equipped with a set of interference filters to register the distribution of Cr I (428 nm), Cu II (625 nm) and Cr I + Cu II (500 nm) in the gap. The arc is ignited between two CuCr-electrodes measuring 20 mm in diameter in a vacuum arc chute imitating the operation of a vacuum circuit breaker by switch opening at a constant rate.