Hall current plasma source having a center-mounted or a surface-mounted cathode

A Hall current plasma source, comprising:

• a flat end plate having a first side and an opposing second side;
• a cylindrical magnetizable core having a first end and a second end and a first axis, the first end being attached to the second side of said flat end plate, said cylindrical magnetizable core having an outer surface;
• a first conducting wire coil wound around the outer surface of said cylindrical magnetizable core;
• a first cylindrical magnetic screen having a second axis collinear with the first axis enclosing said first conducting wire coil, said first cylindrical magnetic screen having an outer diameter;
• a second cylinder having a third axis collinear with the first axis, comprising:
• a second cylindrical magnetic screen having a fourth axis collinear with the first axis, and an inner diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of said first cylindrical magnetic screen, forming an annular region therebetween;
• a second conducting wire coil disposed around said second cylindrical magnetic screen;
• and
• a magnetizable outer cylinder having a fifth axis collinear with the first axis surrounding said second conducting wire coil, said magnetizable outer cylinder having a first end and a second end, the first end being mounted on the second side of said flat end plate, and an outer surface;
• wherein the second end of said cylindrical magnetizable core and the second end of said magnetizable outer cylinder are formed into circular pole pieces facing the annular region;
• at least one cylindrical anode band disposed in the annular region;
• an annular ion channel having an open end and a closed end formed in the annular region adapted to electrically isolate said first cylindrical magnetic screen and said second cylindrical magnetic screen from said at least one cylindrical anode band;
• a gas plenum adapted to receive a first chosen gas and for distributing the first chosen gas into said annular ion channel;
• and
• a hollow cathode discharge apparatus for ionizing a second chosen gas disposed on or outside of the outer surface of said magnetizable outer cylinder or on or above the second end of said cylindrical magnetizable core.

A Hall current plasma source, comprising:

• a cylindrical magnetizable core having an outer surface and a first axis;
• a magnetizable cylinder having an outer surface and a second axis collinear with the first axis, surrounding said cylindrical magnetizable core and forming an annular region therebetween;
• a first conducting wire coil wound around the outer surface of said cylindrical magnetizable core;
• a second conducting wire coil wound around the outer surface of said magnetizable cylinder, and in series electrical connection with said first conducting wire coil;
• at least one cylindrical anode band disposed in the annular region, and in series electrical connection with said first conducting wire coil or said second conducting wire coil;
• a metallic keeper;
• a solenoid operated gas valve;
• a single electrical power supply having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
• an electrical switch in series electrical connection with said first conducting wire coil or said second conducting wire coil not in series electrical connection with said at least one cylindrical anode band, said metallic keeper through a first resistive element, said solenoid of said gas valve, and in series electrical connection with the positive terminal of said single electrical power supply;
• a metal cathode in series electrical communication with negative terminal of said single electrical power supply;
• and
• a capacitor in series electrical connection with a second resistive element together disposed in electrical connection across the positive terminal and the negative terminal of said single electrical power supply, wherein the series electrical connection between said capacitor and said second resistive element is in electrical communication with said electrical switch.