Analysis of the Near‐Anode Processes Characters in Argon Arc Discharges of High Pressure

In this paper the anode layer model including two zones is considered. It is suggested that in the collisionalless zone (the sheath) the potential drop is negative. For the collisional part of the anode layer the equation system is considered. This system takes into account the ionization non‐equilibrium in this layer. Here side by side with the electrical field the complementary diffusion mechanism of the current transfer is examined. This mechanism is stipulated by the existence of the electron gas pressure gradients in the anode layer. It is shown that the potential drop in the collisional part of the anode layer is also negative because of the action of the diffusion mechanism of the current transfer. In this way the full potential drop in the anode layer of the discharge burning in argon by atmospere pressure is turned out to be negative. The character of the change of the energy and impulse equations terms is discussed.