The deionization behavior in plasma during arc discharge of mercury arc rectifier depends on ambipolar diffusion. It is shown here in the quantitative analysis that a diameter of arc path which affects the mercury arc rectifier characteristics is related with the density of charged particles in plasma, the particle number of extruguish ion, the deionizing time and the recovering time of grid controlled ability. The conclusion would he useful for designing a diameter of arc path of mercury arc rectifier by quantitative method. And it could be applied to the designing of electrical apparatus using arc discharge phenomena.