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Title: Axial flow plasma shutter

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5756326

This patent describes a switch for controlling a flow of charged particles including electrons through internal volumes of a cascading ionization device. It comprises: shutter means placeable to intercept the flow of charged particles and defining an aperture substantially normal to the charged particle flow, the aperture further defining an internal volume relatively small in comparison with adjacent ones of the internal volumes accepting the charged particles; and coil means adjacent the aperture effective for producing a magnetic field within the aperture and perpendicular to the charged particle flow having a strength effective for creating a circular path of the electrons about the magnetic field with a circumferences functionally related to a mean free path of the electrons for trapping the electrons in the aperture to quench the cascading ionization in the device.

Assignee:
The Regents of the Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (USA)
Patent Number(s):
US 4721891; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 6-853103A; TRN: 91-019611
OSTI ID:
5756326
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 17 Apr 1986
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English