FIELD: biophysical engineering. SUBSTANCE: method involves supplying voltage to electrodes. The arising electric current melts and evaporates thin wire placed between the electrodes. Distance separating the electrodes is selected to be greater than that required for electric arc to spontaneously arise. Conditions favorable for avalanche breakdown of discharge gap and freely glowing arc to occur between the electrodes are produced. The discharge is interrupted at the stage the transition to freely glowing arc state with evaporating electrodes occurs. EFFECT: improved features for studying atmospheric phenomena and arc discharge development process. 1 dwg
