Balanced barrier discharge neutralization in variable pressure environments

A balanced ionizer for static charge neutralization in an enclosed variable pressure environment in response to the application of at least one variable-waveform signal thereto, the balanced ionizer comprising:

• a hollow dielectric channel having a length, an inner surface, an outer surface, one open end, and one opposing closed end, the dielectric channel being disposed within the variable pressure environment such that the open end of the dielectric channel is not within the variable pressure environment, and such that the opposing closed end is within the variable pressure environment;
• a reference emitter disposed within the variable pressure environment and along the length of and on the outer surface of the dielectric channel;
• and
• a high voltage electrode disposed within the hollow dielectric channel, the high voltage electrode presenting a high intensity electric field to the reference emitter through the dielectric channel in response to the provision of a variable-waveform high voltage signal dictated by conditions in the variable pressure environment, the electric field causing the generation of a plasma region with electrically balanced charge carriers within the variable pressure environment due to barrier discharge occurring at the interface of the reference emitter and the outer surface of the dielectric channel.

A balanced ionizing bar for static charge neutralization in a variable pressure environment in response to the application of variable-waveform signals thereto, the balanced ionizing bar comprising:

• an elongated chassis having a open faced hollow interior and a manifold with a gas inlet and plural apertures disposed between the manifold and the hollow interior such that gas entering the manifold inlet flows out of the open face of the hollow interior, the chassis being at least partially disposed within the variable pressure environment;
• a hollow dielectric channel having a length and an outer surface, the dielectric channel being disposed within the hollow interior of the elongated chassis;
• a reference emitter helically disposed along the length of and on the outer surface of the dielectric channel;
• and
• a high voltage electrode disposed within the hollow dielectric channel, the high voltage electrode presenting a high intensity electric field to the reference emitter through the dielectric channel in response to the provision of a variable-waveform high voltage signal dictated by conditions in the variable pressure environment, the electric field causing the generation of a plasma region with electrically balanced charge carriers within the variable pressure environment due to barrier discharge occurring at the interface of the reference emitter and the outer surface of the dielectric channel.