Abstract
THE accompanying photographs (Fig. 1) represent a somewhat extraordinary manifestation—a single electrode arc. The discharge is produced by the application of alternating voltage of the order of 5 kv. at frequencies higher than about 10,000,000 cycles to an electrode consisting of a short length of wire. It may occur spontaneously if the wire is sufficiently thin (0.1 millimetre); with a thicker electrode it must be started by touching the end of the wire with a glass rod, which is then withdrawn. The discharge has the appearance of a flame or arc having one or more tongues up to 15 centimetres long and is coloured faintly by the electrode material.
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DAVIS, N., BURCH, C. A Single Electrode Arc. Nature 117, 342 (1926). https://doi.org/10.1038/117342a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/117342a0
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