# An Investigation into the Behavior of Cathode and Anode Spots in a Welding Discharge
## 4 Discussion
Thus, the presented material shows the first results of the newly developed experimental technique for studying the reverse side of the cathode spot, and the anode spots are shown for the first time. To obtain analytical dependencies according to the type of Figure 20, there is not enough experimental material yet, and in future publications we will try to present it. Most of the results presented in this paper are new and are of interest from the point of view of physical electronics and the physics of arc welding discharge. The results can be used to simulate the movement of the gearbox as well as to select the optimal configuration of the magnetic field to control the dynamics of the gearbox in various power sources of the welding arc. The development of new electrode materials can benefit from versatile measurements of KP properties on different metals. Let us focus on key points to discuss the results. We acknowledge the ongoing research in the field of self-organized structures concerning electric discharge at atmospheric pressure. The concept of anode spots in the welding arc is developed by the author in [73; 74]. \"The simulations are based on a single fluid-electromagnetic plasma flow model numerically implemented within a second-order-accurate multiscale finite element framework that changes with time and space\", says the author [73]. As the level of cooling at the anode rises, simulations show that spot patterns gradually form, starting with a single diffuse spot for low cooling levels and ending with small spots covering the whole anode region for intense cooling. The characteristics of the patterns, such as the number, size, and location of the spots, markedly depend on the imposed total current. Furthermore, for high cooling levels, the patterns transition from steady to dynamic with decreasing total current. The dynamics of the pattern demonstrate the creation of new spots through the splitting of existing ones in the center of the plasma, along with the movement and eventual extinction of spots at the plasma boundaries. Different types of anode patterns, ranging from diffuse to self-organized spots, significantly influence the total voltage drop across the plasma column, while they have a minor impact on other plasma characteristics. The findings show that thermal instability and the balance between heavy species and electron energy play a major role in how anode patterns form in arc discharges. In fact, by adopting the new perspective of viewing anode spots as self-organizing structures (Figure 21), we can understand the physics involved in the transition from the diffusion discharge of binding to the anode to the oppositely charged form that forms anode spots. Figure 21 depicts the VAC of an arc discharge, emphasizing the impact of self-organization in a glow discharge and casting doubt on the arc itself. Simultaneously, studies [73; 74] demonstrate that welding conditions can lead to purely mathematical anode spots. Simultaneously, the author explores the concept of competition between the energy entering the anode and the energy lost due to Joule heat and evaporation. The author uses a variational multiscale FEM to numerically implement the model of fluid flow and electromagnetic plasma. This makes sure that the results are accurate to the second order in both space and time. This study focuses on the effect of the anode cooling rate on the formation of anode spots. Figure 21 shows the cooling levels on the anode surface for two modes: natural when h = 0 and fast for h = \(\infty\). The simulation results show that spots appear gradually as the anode cooling levels rise. At low cooling levels, there is a single diffuse spot. Later, small spots appear around the main spot in the middle. Finally, during intensive cooling, the anode area is completely covered with small spots. The number, size, and location of the spots depend significantly on the total current introduced.