For the purpose of realizing more intensified energetic plasma are and of achieving high speed welding or cutting, the influence of cusp-type magnetic field on tungsten inert gas arc and on plasma arc is investigated.
When the cusp magnetic field is imposed upon the TIG arc, arc column changes its cross-section from circular into elliptical in accordance with the magnitude of field applied, and arc voltage, potential gradient in arc column and current density at the anode are observed to increase respectively.