# An Investigation into the Behavior of Cathode and Anode Spots in a Welding Discharge
## 1 Introduction
As soon as the heat escapes into the cathode and becomes significant in the energy balance of the spot, it \"dies off\" because there is not enough energy for its functioning [21; 22; 23; 24; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31]. Instead of a dying spot, a new one appears nearby [7; 8]. The need to maintain an energy balance limits the range of currents passed through the control panel [21; 22; 26; 27; 28]. If the current in the electrical circuit exceeds a certain maximum value [24], then the KS is \"divided\", i.e., a second KS appears next to it. If the current in the circuit is less than a certain minimum, the KS goes out [24]. The microscopic dimensions of the KP cause a significant influence on various micro-objects on the cathode surface: dielectric inclusions, metal grains, and other inhomogeneities. The cathode material also affects the KP parameters [25]. The successes of recent decades In experimental studies of cathode spots has become possible due to the intensive development of vacuum technology [21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32], the advent of modern computer technology, artificial intelligence [33], digital means of measuring and processing electrical signals, digital photography, etc. We encountered the issue of a lack of experimental facts regarding the structure and properties of the anode spot in the welding arc when analyzing the sources of information for the literature review. Numerous authors studying arc processes use the term \"anode spot\" in numerous works, yet no single work focuses on the structure and properties of the spot itself. In open sources of information (scientific journals, monographs, and the Internet), there is not a single photo of the anode spot of the welding arc. Moreover, after analyzing the currently available scientific literature on this issue, we have not been able to formulate the basic properties of the anode spot of the welding arc. Although everyone already knows that the \"secret\" of the cathode spot of an arc discharge has been \"revealed\", so say the author of [25; 32] and his associates, that is not the problem; we all forgot about the anode spot, and it also exists in the arc discharge, and without it, there will be no discharge itself. The paradoxical situation with the anode spot, according to the generally accepted, traditional view, is that the anode spot is a key source of heat during welding, surfacing, and cutting, but in no scientific specialized [2; 3; 13; 14; 15; 16] or educational publications on welding [1] is there even a physical description of this object; there is not a single photo of the anode spot: when welding with coated electrodes, in the environment of protective gases, plasma: welding, surfacing, and cutting. According to the authors [PERSON] and [PERSON]. [4], the anode spot has almost unlimited mobility. At the same time, the authors, giving such a definition, believe that the surface of the anode does not play a significant role in the elementary processes of arc discharge at all. They further note that metal arcs with evaporating electrodes of low current strength differ from a carbon arc in exceptional instability. This is due to the instability of the anode and cathode spots [4]. The last mention, in the form of several sentences about the properties of the anode spot on metal arcs, is available in [4]. Specifically, research on the physical processes at the anode of arcs formed by metal vapors has been inadequate. Such arcs can be divided into arcs with compression of the column at the anode and without compression. Arcs with metal electrodes burning in air or in oxidizing gases, as a rule, form a highly compressed anode spot. The anode spot accelerates rapidly along the anode's surface (quantitative values remain unspecified). The high current density (about 103 A/cm\({}^{2}\)) often releases steam from the anode. Arcs in inert gases and pure nitrogen have anode compression only at low currents (less than 30 A).