Cathodic Arcs: From Fractal Spots to Energetic Condensation

Cathodic arcs are among the longest studied yet least understood objects in science. Plasma—generating, tiny spots appear on the cathode; they are highly dynamic and hard to control. With an approach emphasizing the fractal character of cathode spots, strongly fluctuating plasma properties are described such as the presence of multiply charged ions that move with supersonic velocity. Richly illustrated, the book also deals with practical issues, such as arc source construction, macroparticl...