It is shown that high-current vacuum arcs accompanied by partial melting of the cathode surface and its droplet erosion can generate, in addition to the well-known droplets formed immediately in the cathode spot (first type droplets), a second component of erosion. The liquid part of the cathode surface can emit droplets with significantly different sizes and velocities, which may be called second type droplets. The mechanisms of the formation of first and second type droplets are also substantially different.
A silicon photodiode, was used to measure the power emitted by a vacuum arc in the ultraviolet and visible spectral regions. The measurements were carried out with the high-current vacuum arc stabilized by an axial magnetic field in regimes with developed anode activity. The power of radiation coming out of the arc through the side surface was measured. The results show that when analyzing the energy balance of a high-current vacuum arc, radiation must be taken into account.
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