Investigation of a cylindrical, axially blown, high-pressure arc

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

An experimental arrangement for the production of a quasi-stationary, high-current arc is described. It is stabilized by an axial gas flow in a high-pressure environment (current: 1900 A, pressure: 23 atm, gas: nitrogen). The conditions are described under which part of the arc assumes a cylindrical form. For such an arc the radial temperature distribution was measured. Because of the cylindrical shape a relatively simple evaluation yields quantitative data about the local radiative energy balance and the other energy transport mechanisms. This leads, for the first time, to a quantitative understanding of the different physical processes in this arc, and makes it possible to formulate a simplified arc model which is useful in practical applications.