Title screen

[References: p. 705 (11 tit.)]

The investigation described in this paper dealt with spectroscopic measurementsof the near-cathode plasma in a low-pressure arc on a Mg cathode with a current of 100 A anda pulse of duration 150 µs. Information on the directed velocities of the heavy particles (ionsand neutral species) has been obtained from measuring the Doppler shift and the broadeningof the spectral lines. The electron density in the cathode flare has been estimated from thecollisional broadening of the lines. The experimental data obtained support the validity of thepotential hump model for treating the mechanism of fast-ion generation.