US 10,403,466 B1 · Low sputtering, cross-field, gas switch and method of operation

Abstract

A gas switch includes a gas-tight housing containing an ionizable gas, an anode disposed within the gas-tight housing, and a cathode disposed within the gas-tight housing, where the cathode includes a conduction surface. The gas switch also includes a control grid positioned between the anode and the cathode, where the control grid is arranged to receive a bias voltage to establish a conducting plasma between the anode and the cathode. In addition, the gas switch includes a plurality of magnets selectively arranged to generate a magnetic field proximate the conduction surface that reduces the kinetic energy of charged particles striking the conduction surface and raises the conduction current density at the cathode surface to technically useful levels.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A gas switch, comprising:

a gas-tight housing containing an ionizable gas;
an anode disposed within said gas-tight housing;
a cathode disposed within said gas-tight housing, said cathode comprising a conduction surface;
a control grid positioned between said anode and said cathode, said control grid arranged to receive a bias voltage to establish a conducting plasma between said anode and said cathode;
and
a plurality of magnets selectively arranged to generate a magnetic field proximate said conduction surface that reduces the kinetic energy of charged particles striking said conduction surface, wherein said plurality of magnets are further arranged, such that a maximum magnetic field strength of the magnetic field is greater than 100 Gauss.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low sputtering, cross-field, gas switch and method of operation

Life of this patent

Low sputtering, cross-field, gas switch and method of operation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18