The　objective　of　this　paper　is　to　investigate　anode　plume　in　high-current　vacuum　arc　through　experiments　and　simulations.　A　series　of　experiments　are　carried　out　in　a　demountable　vacuum　chamber　at　different　current　levels　with　the　CuCr40　contact.　Combined　with　arc　voltage　and　arc　image,　the　formation　and　evolution　of　typical　anode　modes,　especially　anode　plume,　are　analyzed.　The　contact　erosion　and　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　results　are　also　discussed　after　experiments.　Based　on　the　experimental　results,　a　two-dimensional　(2D)　magneto-hydro-dynamic　(MHD)　model　is　adopted　to　study　the　physical　characteristics　of　anode　plume.　The　experimental　results　show　that　a　larger　current　leads　to　a　more　intense　anode　mode　forming　at　smaller　gap　distance　with　a　bigger　and　brighter　arc　column.　Anode　plume　is　generated　between　anode　spot　type　2　and　current　zero　due　to　the　obvious　pressure　difference　between　anode　vapor　and　cathode　plasma,　which　is　confirmed　by　the　simulation　results　of　different　anode　temperatures.　The　contact　erosion　is　more　severe　in　the　area　where　anode　plumes　frequently　appear.　The　spatial　distribution　of　number　density,　temperature,　pressure,　and　electrical　conductivity　of　anode　plume　are　analyzed　by　simulations,　and　therefore　the　related　experimental　phenomena　are　explained.　©　2020　Author(s).