Electric discharge characterized by a cathode fall that is small compared with that in a glow discharge.

luminous, gaseous, electrical discharge in which the charge transfer occurs continuously along a narrow channel of high ion density. An arc discharge requires a continuous source of an electric potential gradient across the terminals of the arc. Arc discharges do not naturally occur in the atmosphere. Compare corona discharge, point discharge, spark discharge.

a high power electrical discharge characterized by high current (tens to hundreds of amperes) and low voltage ( a few to tens of volts) and an I-V curve of negative slope

an inherently variable thing, and could be subject to high surge currents