Magnetron cathodes in plasma electrode Pockels cells

Title: Magnetron cathodes in plasma electrode Pockels cells

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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. 5 figs.

Inventors:: Rhodes, M.A.

Issue Date:: 1995-04-25

OSTI Identifier:: 46316

Assignee:: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States) PTO; SCA: 420000; PA: EDB-95:078288; SN: 95001384521

Patent Number(s):: US 5,410,425/A/

Application Number:: PAN: 8-058,844

Contract Number:: W-7405-ENG-48

Resource Relation:: Other Information: PBD: 25 Apr 1995

Research Org:: University of California

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES; POCKELS CELL; CATHODES; IONIZATION; PLASMA PRODUCTION; ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY; LASER RADIATION; LIGHT TRANSMISSION

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Magnetron cathodes in plasma electrode pockels cells

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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 uniformlymore »« less
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