Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

The Fractal Nature of Arc Vacuum Cathode Spots

What are cathode spots, how are they formed, what are their properties and why do they seem to have self-similar patterns in the emitted light and arc erosion traces?

Please consider supporting this channel through:
patreon.com/seethepattern
paypal.me/seethepattern

Merchandise Available:
shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/see-the-pattern

Electrical Scarring Series:
Plasma Gun Volcanoes - youtu.be/-YLsLGX1OXE
Plasma Experiments vs Real Craters - youtu.be/zGTbMuatXZ8
Lunar Sinuous Rilles - youtu.be/DRvm28xbE00
Secondary Discharges due to a magnetic field - youtu.be/heTQBJVzA_8

Follow me on:
facebook.com/SeethePattern
twitter.com/PatternSeethe

Email me:
gareth@seethepattern.org

References:
osti.gov/servlets/purl/877322
https://indico.cern.ch/event/680402/contributions/2976651/attachments/1671083/2680777/Model_of_Cathode_Spot_Crater_Formation_and_Development_in_Vacuum_Arc.pdf
aip.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1063/1.5141406
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/jpa-00255560/document
researchgate.net/publication/255795280_Peculiarities_of_an_Electric_Discharge_between_an_Electrolytic_Cathode_and_a_Metal_Anode/download
arxiv.org/pdf/1901.07336.pdf

00:00 Introduction
00:15 Cathode Spots
00:40 Surface Chemistry
02:21 Fractal Nature: Random Walk
05:12 Fractal Nature: Multi Arc Traces
05:28 Fractal Nature: Optical and Micro Particles
06:18 Ignition Conditions & Spot Fragments
09:56 Summary