Optical investigation of vacuum arc cathode spot plasma jet in axial magnetic field

Given are the results of optical study of plasma jet of a cathode spot of a freely burning vacuum arc with copper electrodes at current 60 A as well as the arc stabilized with the uniform axial magnetic fields of induction up to 0.2 T. The axial and radial distributions of radiation intensity for different ionization states of copper - an atom, single and double ions were studied. The dependence of the excitation temperature of a single ion along the jet was determined. The obtained results were discussed and compared with those of simulation.