System for converting electric energy into thermal energy

A system for converting electrical energy to thermal energy, comprising:

• two electrodes separated by a distance d along an axis joining the two electrodes, said two electrodes configured to create field lines defining a zone of influence when the two electrodes are subjected to a potential difference (pd),
• an electrical power supply device for said two electrodes configured to provide the potential difference (pd), and
• a triggering device configured to trigger an electric arc between the two electrodes, the triggering device including:
• a device for emitting a laser pulse,
• a device for focusing the laser pulse at N focusing points situated in the zone of influence of the two electrodes, with a peak power density of the laser pulse per focusing point being greater than 1 GW/cm2, N being determined as a function of a peak power of the laser pulse and of the distance d, said distance d being fixed to form an electrically conducting zone between the two electrodes.