Multicomponent Thermal Plasma of Arc Discharges

This paper deals with investigations of thermal electric arc plasma in complex gas - metal vapour mixtures. Experimental techniques in the diagnostic were widely discussed. The study of non-steady-state discharges was performed with an appropriate temporal and spatial resolution. Spectroscopy investigations of plasma parameters in some modes of discharge operation were carried out. Spatial profiles of temperatures and electron densities were obtained. Plasma composition was calculated in an assumption of the local thermodynamic equilibrium. The influence of some mechanisms on plasma condition was analysed.