Low-voltage gas-discharge device
Abstract
An electronic device of the type wherein current flow is conducted by an ionized gas comprising a cathode of the type heated by ionic bombardment, an anode, means for maintaining a predetermined pressure in the region between the anode and the cathode and means for maintaining a field in the region is described. The field, which is preferably a combined magnetic and electric field, is oriented so that the mean distance traveled by electrons before reaching the anode is increased. Because of this increased distance traveled electrons moving to the anode will ionize a large number of gas atoms, thus reducing the voltage necessary to initiate gas breakdown. In a preferred embodiment the anode is a main hollow cathode and the cathode is a smaller igniter hollow cathode located within and coaxial with the main hollow cathode. An axial magnetic field is provided in the region between the hollow cathodes in order to facilitate gas breakdown in that region and initiate plasma discharge from the main hollow cathode.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6194538
- Application Number:
- ON: DE83010499
- Assignee:
- EDB-83-077843
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; GAS DISCHARGE TUBES; DESIGN; BREAKDOWN; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; ELECTRODES; HOLLOW CATHODES; IGNITION; OPERATION; PLASMA; CATHODES; ELECTRON TUBES; 420800* - Engineering- Electronic Circuits & Devices- (-1989)
Citation Formats
Kovarik, V J, Hershcovitch, A, and Prelec, K. Low-voltage gas-discharge device. United States: N. p., 1982.
Web.
Kovarik, V J, Hershcovitch, A, & Prelec, K. Low-voltage gas-discharge device. United States.
Kovarik, V J, Hershcovitch, A, and Prelec, K. Tue .
"Low-voltage gas-discharge device". United States.
@article{osti_6194538,
title = {Low-voltage gas-discharge device},
author = {Kovarik, V J and Hershcovitch, A and Prelec, K},
abstractNote = {An electronic device of the type wherein current flow is conducted by an ionized gas comprising a cathode of the type heated by ionic bombardment, an anode, means for maintaining a predetermined pressure in the region between the anode and the cathode and means for maintaining a field in the region is described. The field, which is preferably a combined magnetic and electric field, is oriented so that the mean distance traveled by electrons before reaching the anode is increased. Because of this increased distance traveled electrons moving to the anode will ionize a large number of gas atoms, thus reducing the voltage necessary to initiate gas breakdown. In a preferred embodiment the anode is a main hollow cathode and the cathode is a smaller igniter hollow cathode located within and coaxial with the main hollow cathode. An axial magnetic field is provided in the region between the hollow cathodes in order to facilitate gas breakdown in that region and initiate plasma discharge from the main hollow cathode.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 08 00:00:00 EDT 1982},
month = {Tue Jun 08 00:00:00 EDT 1982}
}