Plasma generation system with plasma generator having short electrode protrusion and/or disconnectable portion

A plasma generation system, comprising:

• a plasma generator, comprising:
• first and second electrodes each extending for a length from an exposed distal end to a proximal end, each of the first and second electrodes extending along an electrode axis that is nearly parallel to the electrode axis of the other electrode for a length from the distal end towards the proximal end of the electrode;
• and
• an isolator spacing the electrodes apart;
• and
• circuitry configured to:
• apply across the first and second electrodes, a breakdown voltage sufficient to induce breakdown between the electrodes, resulting in formation of plasma in an initiation region that is along the length of the electrodes;
• and
• apply, across the electrodes, at least one subsequent pulse of electrical energy sufficient to propagate the plasma from the initiation region in a direction away from the isolator,
• wherein the at least one subsequent pulse of electrical energy includes a current flow through the electrodes sufficient to move the plasma to the distal ends and subsequently beyond the distal ends of the electrodes and to form virtual electrodes comprising electrical current flowing out of the distal end of one of the electrodes and through a portion of the plasma in a direction substantially parallel to the one electrode's axis and flowing into the distal end of an other of the electrodes through another portion of the plasma in a direction substantially parallel to the other electrode's axis, with a portion of the plasma extending between the virtual electrodes for conduction of the current from one virtual electrode to the other virtual electrode.

A method of creating a traveling spark, comprising:

• forming a plasma from an ionizable medium by causing electrons to flow between a pair of spaced electrodes in the presence of the ionizable medium, wherein the electrodes each extend along an axis nearly parallel to each other, wherein the plasma is formed in a plasma initiation region between the electrodes, and wherein, at formation of the plasma, the electrons are emitted by one of the electrodes and received by the other of the electrodes in a direction substantially perpendicular to the electrode axes;
• moving the plasma along the electrodes to distal tips of the electrodes by applying at least one subsequent current pulse to the electrodes before recombination of the plasma;
• and
• moving the plasma beyond the distal tips using virtual electrodes that extend axially past the distal tips of the electrodes, wherein the virtual electrodes comprise electrons flowing out of the distal tip of one of the electrodes in a direction nearly parallel to the electrode's axis, through the plasma between the virtual electrodes, and into the other electrode in a direction nearly parallel to the other electrode's axis.

A plasma generation system, comprising:

• a plasma generator having a first electrode;
• and
• circuitry configured to apply electrical energy between the first electrode and a second electrode that is sufficient to form plasma between the first and second electrodes;
• wherein a first portion of the plasma generation system automatically disconnects from a remaining portion of the plasma generation system.