On Mechanisms of Mercury Vapour Arc Discharge (I) Reactive Character of Mercury Arc

Abstract

By applying an impulsive voltage to the anode of a glass mercury arc rectifier wherein the cathode spot exists, the wave forms of anode voltage, anode current and excitation anode voltage were observed through a high speed oscilloscope or a transient analyser. In consequence it was found that a mercury arc has a characteristic of reactance and it can be explained through the inertia of mercury ions.