The second mode of operation (termed for convenience as the fast mode of operation) is effected by transferring the arc between all or only a few of the ring electrodes of the device at a rate rapid enough so that the dwell time of the arc at any particular ring electrode is smaller than the thermal time constant of the arc plasma.
In this fast mode of operation, the power distribution and the power of the arc can be controlled by varying the dwell time of- the arc on any particular ring' electrode.

In this case, the term dwell time of the arc on a ring electrode implies the duration of current flow from the arc to the ring electrode during one transfer.

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=1990/03095&IA=WO1990/...

dwell time = duration of current flow from the arc to the ring electrode during one transfer


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Note added at 57 mins (2008-02-11 16:59:15 GMT)
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