DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HIGH INTENSITY ARC DISCHARGE
Abstract
A device is described for producing an energetic d-c carbon arc discharge between widely spaced electrodes with arc currents in excess of 100 amperes in a magnetic field of about 3000 gauss and witnin an evacuated enclo sure at a pressure of about 10/sup -5/ mm Hg. No defining electrodes are used in the device, thus essentially eliminating the problems of shorting which heretofore limited the amount of current that could be produced in an arc discharge. The energetic carbon arc discharge is sustained by the potential across the electrodes and by carbon ions and electrons released from the electrodes during arc operation. A large part of the potential drop of the arc occurs along the arc and many energetic electrons reach the anode because the arc pressure is relatively low, and few collisions occur. The carbon discharge is also an efficient ion pump.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- OSTI Identifier:
- 4165162
- Patent Number(s):
- 2920234
- Assignee:
- U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H05 - ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR H05H - PLASMA TECHNIQUE
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-016134
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- PHYSICS; CARBON; CONFIGURATION; CURRENTS; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; ELECTRIC POTENTIAL; ELECTRODES; ELECTRONS; INSTRUMENTS; IONS; MAGNETIC FIELDS; MEASURED VALUES; PLANNING; PRESSURE; VACUUM
Citation Formats
Luce, J S. DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HIGH INTENSITY ARC DISCHARGE. United States: N. p., 1960.
Web.
Luce, J S. DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HIGH INTENSITY ARC DISCHARGE. United States.
Luce, J S. Fri .
"DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HIGH INTENSITY ARC DISCHARGE". United States.
@article{osti_4165162,
title = {DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HIGH INTENSITY ARC DISCHARGE},
author = {Luce, J S},
abstractNote = {A device is described for producing an energetic d-c carbon arc discharge between widely spaced electrodes with arc currents in excess of 100 amperes in a magnetic field of about 3000 gauss and witnin an evacuated enclo sure at a pressure of about 10/sup -5/ mm Hg. No defining electrodes are used in the device, thus essentially eliminating the problems of shorting which heretofore limited the amount of current that could be produced in an arc discharge. The energetic carbon arc discharge is sustained by the potential across the electrodes and by carbon ions and electrons released from the electrodes during arc operation. A large part of the potential drop of the arc occurs along the arc and many energetic electrons reach the anode because the arc pressure is relatively low, and few collisions occur. The carbon discharge is also an efficient ion pump.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1960},
month = {1}
}