Cathode Heating by Vacuum Arcs: A Survey

Theoretical predictions about heat sources, power dissipation and heating time scales are compared with available experimental data. It is concluded that the heating process must have a much faster time scale than quasi-stationary heat conduction. This can be achieved only by ion impact heating. A special model is discussed (thin layer heating) which explains the high power dissipation within the cathode as well as the short heating times.