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Title: Magnetron cathodes in plasma electrode pockels cells

Abstract

Magnetron cathodes, which produce high current discharges, form greatly improved plasma electrodes on each side of an electro-optic crystal. The plasma electrode has a low pressure gas region on both sides of the crystal. When the gas is ionized, e.g., by a glow discharge in the low pressure gas, the plasma formed is a good conductor. The gas electrode acts as a highly uniform conducting electrode. Since the plasma is transparent to a high energy laser beam passing through the crystal, the plasma is transparent. A crystal exposed from two sides to such a plasma can be charged up uniformly to any desired voltage. A typical configuration utilizes helium at 50 millitorr operating. pressure and 2 kA discharge current. The magnetron cathode produces a more uniform plasma and allows a reduced operating pressure which leads to lower plasma resistivity and a more uniform charge on the crystal.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Pleasanton, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
869854
Patent Number(s):
5410425
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02F - DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH IS MODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THE DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY, COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g. SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
magnetron; cathodes; plasma; electrode; pockels; cells; produce; current; discharges; form; greatly; improved; electrodes; electro-optic; crystal; pressure; gas; region; ionized; glow; discharge; formed; conductor; highly; uniform; conducting; transparent; energy; laser; beam; passing; exposed; charged; uniformly; desired; voltage; typical; configuration; utilizes; helium; 50; millitorr; operating; ka; cathode; produces; allows; reduced; leads; resistivity; charge; operating pressure; highly uniform; conducting electrode; gas region; discharge current; uniform plasma; beam passing; pressure gas; laser beam; glow discharge; pockels cell; energy laser; plasma formed; plasma electrodes; desired voltage; greatly improved; charge current; cathode produces; plasma electrode; electro-optic crystal; gas electrode; improved plasma; magnetron cathodes; /359/

Citation Formats

Rhodes, Mark A. Magnetron cathodes in plasma electrode pockels cells. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Rhodes, Mark A. Magnetron cathodes in plasma electrode pockels cells. United States.
Rhodes, Mark A. Sun . "Magnetron cathodes in plasma electrode pockels cells". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869854.
@article{osti_869854,
title = {Magnetron cathodes in plasma electrode pockels cells},
author = {Rhodes, Mark A},
abstractNote = {Magnetron cathodes, which produce high current discharges, form greatly improved plasma electrodes on each side of an electro-optic crystal. The plasma electrode has a low pressure gas region on both sides of the crystal. When the gas is ionized, e.g., by a glow discharge in the low pressure gas, the plasma formed is a good conductor. The gas electrode acts as a highly uniform conducting electrode. Since the plasma is transparent to a high energy laser beam passing through the crystal, the plasma is transparent. A crystal exposed from two sides to such a plasma can be charged up uniformly to any desired voltage. A typical configuration utilizes helium at 50 millitorr operating. pressure and 2 kA discharge current. The magnetron cathode produces a more uniform plasma and allows a reduced operating pressure which leads to lower plasma resistivity and a more uniform charge on the crystal.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}