Time resolved characterization of a free-burning argon arc after ignition by optical emission spectroscopy

Abstract

Time resolvedproperties of a free-burning argon arc after ignition have been characterized using optical spectroscopic method. After ignition, when the arc current keeps constant, the plasma temperature decreases with time at any position of the arc. The decrease of the plasma temperature is associated with the increase of the arc cathode surface temperature. It is suggested that the variation of the cathode surface temperature, which changes the current density distribution over the cathode surface, leads to the decrease of the plasma temperature in the free-burning arc after ignition.