A method for achieving ignition of a 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. 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 larger number of gas atoms, thus reducing the voltage necesary 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:
-
- Bohemia, NY
- Mt. Sinai, NY
- Setauket, NY
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Associated Universities, Inc., Upton, NY (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866514
- Patent Number(s):
- 4728862
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; achieving; ignition; voltage; gas; discharge; device; electronic; type; current; flow; conducted; ionized; comprising; cathode; heated; ionic; bombardment; anode; means; maintaining; predetermined; pressure; region; field; preferably; combined; magnetic; electric; oriented; mean; distance; traveled; electrons; reaching; increased; moving; ionize; larger; atoms; reducing; necesary; initiate; breakdown; preferred; embodiment; main; hollow; igniter; located; coaxial; axial; provided; cathodes; facilitate; plasma; ionized gas; axial magnetic; hollow cathode; plasma discharge; discharge device; predetermined pressure; electric field; magnetic field; preferred embodiment; current flow; gas comprising; gas discharge; gas atoms; voltage gas; electronic device; gas breakdown; type heat; /315/313/
Citation Formats
Kovarik, Vincent J, Hershcovitch, Ady, and Prelec, Krsto. A method for achieving ignition of a low voltage gas discharge device. United States: N. p., 1988.
Web.
Kovarik, Vincent J, Hershcovitch, Ady, & Prelec, Krsto. A method for achieving ignition of a low voltage gas discharge device. United States.
Kovarik, Vincent J, Hershcovitch, Ady, and Prelec, Krsto. Fri .
"A method for achieving ignition of a low voltage gas discharge device". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866514.
@article{osti_866514,
title = {A method for achieving ignition of a low voltage gas discharge device},
author = {Kovarik, Vincent J and Hershcovitch, Ady and Prelec, Krsto},
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. 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 larger number of gas atoms, thus reducing the voltage necesary 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 = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988}
}