Bulk plasma generation
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsHan S. Uhm, Joel D. Miller, Ralph F. Schneider, Daniel J. Weidman
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Abstract
Annular arrangements of thermionic filaments adjacent opposite axial ends a chamber within which argon gas at low presure is confined, generate steady state plasma with uniformity by low energy emission of gas ionizing electrons from the filaments. The ionizing electrons and plasma generated are axially confined between grids at the axial ends of the chamber and radially confined by a low intensity magnetic field generated by an external magnetic coil.
Claims10
In a device for generating steady state plasma, including a housing having opposite axial ends between which an axis extends longitudinally through a body of gas ionized by electrons, electron repelling grids positioned within the housing adjacent the axial ends thereof and magnetic coil means positioned externally on the housing for producing a magnetic field confining the electrons in cooperation with the electron repelling grids to form an electron confinement region within the housing, the improvement residing in confinement of the plasma to said region within the housing between said opposite axial ends thereof and means mounted in operative relation to the repelling grids and the magnetic coil means for emitting the electrons producing said steady state plasma with a density that is uniform along said axis within the electron confinement region.
A device for generating steady-state bulk plasma, comprising a housing enclosing a drift chamber, a body of gas under pressure within said chamber, axially spaced arrays of filaments operatively mounted within the chamber in predetermined radial relation thereto, power means connected to said filaments for emitting energy electrons initiating formation of plasma by ionization of said body of gas and magnetic field means radially confining the electrons emitted from the filaments for rendering the plasma uniform in density between said arrays and radially inward of the filaments while decreasing in density toward zero radially outwardly of the filaments within the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.