GB858734A - Device for producing a high intensity arc discharge - Google Patents

Abstract

858,734. Discharge apparatus. UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION. March 26, 1959 [May 27, 1958], No. 10540/59. Class 39(1). A device for establishing a high-intensity direct-current carbon arc comprises a vacuum enclosure containing spaced carbon anode and cathode electrodes, means for establishing a magnetic field parallel to the axis of the discharge, means for temporarily assisting in the initiation of an arc discharge directly between said electrodes, and a variable voltage source connected between said electrodes for also assisting in the initiation and for varying the intensity of said arc discharge. Arc currents of 100 to 5000 amps may be obtained in magnetic fields of the order of 3000 gauss with a vacuum of the order of 2X10<SP>-7</SP> mm. of mercury. In the arrangement shown a cathode 1 and anode 4 of carbon are supported in brackets 2 and 5 supplied with cooling water through conduits 24 and 25 and are provided with insulated shields 6, 7 and 8. Argon is supplied to a hole in the cathode 1 through a pipe 23. Magnets 26 and 27 provide a field H axially of the vacuum chamber 9. An r.f. voltage source 13 and a variable D.C. source 15 are connected between the cathode and anode by switches 12 and 14 respectively. On closing the switches an r.f. arc appears first, followed by the main discharge. After the arc is struck the gas feed and r.f. voltage are discontinued. Vaporized carbon from both the cathode and anode absorb gas and thus produce a high pumping capacity for neutral particles. The arc will also act as an ion pump if suitable baffles are used. A further arrangement is described, Fig. 2 (not shown), in which a beam of molecular deuterium ions is passed through the arc to produce atomic ions by dissociation. The atomic ions may then be trapped to form a plasma in a thermonuclear device by the method described in Specification 853,916.