Table 1. Cross-sectional areas of the positive column and areas of attachment to the instant cathodes. The attachment areas to the instant cathodes were measured at moment of the corresponding discharge current peaks (for the cathode at replica electrode – I_d peak at 1^st positive half-wave and for the cathode at the surgical probe - I_d peak at 1^st negative half-wave). ESU argon flow rate was set to 3 LPM.

	P = 15W	P = 40W	P = 60W
Cross-sectional area of positive column, cm2	7.10−4	10−3	10−3
Area of attachment to the replica electrode, cm2	1.6.10−2	6.3.10−2	10−1
Area of attachment to the surgical probe, cm2	2.5.10−2	6.6.10−2	8.10−2