Arc Extinction in a Low-Pressure Mercury Pool Valve by a Slowly Forming Effect

Abstract

SPONTANEOUS extinction of the arc in a mercury pool valve has recently been given some detailed attention¹. An apparently novel type of arc extinction was observed when a particular series of measurements was made of the values of the plasma parameters at various instants in the shape of a repetitive current pulse passing in the low-pressure mercury pool valve referred to in another communication². The valve carried half-period sinusoidal current pulses of a crest value of 18.3 A at a frequency of 50 c/s, with the cathode temperature as a parameter at θ_k = 25, 35, 45 and 55° C. The method used for plasma measurement is indicated in the other communication².