The vacuum arc discharge in anode material vapour

Summary form only given, as follows. In our experiments a discharge gas is formed between the thermionic cathode and water-cooled anode. Al, Cu, Ni, Cr, Ti, Ta, Mo, B, C, W are embedded on the anode as a working substance. Using the cylindrical electrode and electromagnetic system there is the possibility for creating transverse electric and magnetic fields. It is shown that the plasma-flow ionization coefficient may reach the value up to 80%. Thus the data presented in this paper (high ionization coefficient, charge-compensated plasma flow) demonstrate the perspective of wide practical utilization of such type of discharge for creation of thin high-adhesive films.