High Current Vacuum Arcs Stabilized by Axial Magnetic Fields

This report comprises the following experiments and an analysis on the fundamental properties of vacuum arcs. They are photographic observation, volt-ampere characteristics in axial magnetic fields, the axial electric field derived from the difference of arcing voltages corresponding to two different electrode spacings, the arc pressure by diamagnetic flux measurement, the arc temperature by relative intensity measurement of CuII lines, and a simple analysis of vacuum arc column stabilized by axial magnetic field.