The ARC Mantle

Through differntial (Wollastoferometric) inter- erometric diagnostics, the radial distributions of temperature and air particle density (at various times within a current pulse) within the arc mantle, and the timewise distributions of arc size and mantle thickness have been obtained in the region upstream of the throat in a single flow orifice nozzle interrupter. Effects of metal vapor were also determined using upstream electrode tips of graphite, copper-tungsten, and copper.