  The mechanisms and processes of the formation of the regenerative soot in a
graphite hollow cathode discharge that produces and emits carbon clusters are
presented. Mass spectrometry with a designed ExB velocity filter analyzes the
entire range of the charged clusters from monatomic Carbon C1 to as large
clusters as C4300. The state of the carbon vapor within the source is evaluated
by using the characteristic line emissions from the carbonaceous discharge
whose formative mechanisms depend upon the kinetic and potential sputtering of
the sooted cathode. The carbonaceous discharge generates atomic and ionic C and
its clusters Cm where m is equal to or greater than 2, noble gas metastable
atoms and ions, energetic electrons and photons in the cavity of the graphite
hollow cathode. The parameters of soot formation and its recycling depend
critically on the discharge parameters, the geometry of the hollow cathode and
3D profile of the cusp magnetic field contours.
