Analysis of processes leading to explosive phenomena on the surface of a liquid cathode at the time of the dc electric arc ignition

The paper considers various causes of explosions on the cathodes surface in the region of arc attachment in a direct current arc discharge. Estimates of the characteristic times of the development of instabilities during the passage of current through the liquid tip of the cathode are made. As a result, an assumption was put forward that, starting from the moment of formation of the stretched tip and up to the explosion, at different stages of the stretches development, various instabilities alternately play the main roles