US 8,077,094 B2 · Plasma device with low thermal noise

Abstract

A plasma device having low thermal noise, which results in a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the plasma device. The plasma device includes devices with a plasma that is responsive to electromagnetic radiation and/or electrical signals. In various configurations, the plasma device has a plasma in which the temperature, resistance, pressure, and/or collision frequency are at a level sufficiently low to produce an acceptable level of noise. In another configuration, the operating frequency of the plasma device is at a level sufficiently high to produce an acceptable level of noise. Decreasing the noise level results in increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and increasing the data rate. The plasma temperature is reduced by operating the plasma device in the afterglow state. The plasma electron temperature is reduced by confining high energy electrons in a potential well and by using an electron emitting filament.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A plasma device with a selected thermal noise level, said plasma device comprising:

a vessel defining a chamber, said vessel being electrically non-conductive;
a gas contained in said chamber, said gas being ionizable;
an exciter configured to ionize said gas in said chamber to form a plasma, and plasma having a lower thermal noise level as compared to a metal device having a comparable configuration;
a circuit coupled to said plasma, said circuit configured to communicate a signal with said plasma;
and
an electron emitting filament in said chamber, said electron emitting filament configured to replace high energy electrons with low energy electrons.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Plasma device with low thermal noise

Life of this patent

Plasma device with low thermal noise

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15