US2285622A

US2285622A - Ion source

Info

Publication number: US2285622A
Application number: US340556A
Authority: US
Inventors: Slepian Joseph
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1940-06-14
Filing date: 1940-06-14
Publication date: 1942-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-09

Description

June 9, 1942. J. S LEPIAN 2,285,622

' ION SOURCE Filed June 14, 1940 High fi'eqaency Scarce Ig' Va/v Gas Bottle 7 High Frequency Source INVENTOR WITNESSES: I

Joseph Slap/a n.

Q I BY 7% W Patented June 9, 1942 101v souaon Joseph Slepian, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westingliouse Electric Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 14, 1940, Serial No. 340,556

8 Claims.

My invention relates-to an ion generator, and particularly to means for increasing the eiiiciency of such generators.

In the operation of certain devices. it is desirable to have aasource of high energy ions for use in the operation of the device. Such ions through the capillary opening where they. may

do useful work.

According to my invention, the ionizing discharge is caused to take place within the capillary opening where it ionizes a stream of gas ,passing through the opening which carries substantially all of the ions thus generated into the space where they can do useful work. The ion generator according to my invention comprises a suitable discharge vessel constructed of insulating material having a" capillary opening through which a suitable ionizable gas flows into the working space. A suitable electrode is provided within the generator chamber, and a second electrode is provided in capacitive relation to the insulating materialforming the capillary A high frequency discharge is. then maintained between the two electrodes so discharge tube.

thatthe discharge flows through the capillary andiohizes the gaseous medium passing therethroug having an outlet capillary tube of relatively small size which communicates with the suitable working passage herein illustrated as an ion accelerator or socall d atom-smasher, 3. A small inlet passage or so-called leak 4 is provided in the side walls of the generator chamber I, and a suitable ionizing gas,-which may be air, hydrogen, argon, etc., is introduced through this leak 4, so that there is a flow of ionizable gas through the capillary outlet tube ,2 into the working chamber 3 to which ions are to be supplied. If a gas other than air is to be utilized as the working medium, a suitable container 5 controlled by any suitable valve 6 may be connected to the leak 4 in the generating chamber I. In any event, the flow of gas through the leak 4 is controlled .to provide sufficientpressure in the generator chamber I to cause a flow of the gaseous medium through the capillary tube 2. 'A suitable discharge electrode 1 is placed within the generator chamber I, and a second electrode 8 is placed in capacitive relation to the external portion of the capillary tube 2; preferably, this second electrode 8 being formed as a collar tightly surrounding the capillary'tube 2.

The capillary tube 2 is constructed ofanlnsulating material of high dielectric strength,- such as quartz, and is made of a minimum thickness to increase the capacitive discharge efiect of the second electrode 8. A suitable high-frequency source III is connected to these two electrodes l and 8 to produce a high-frequency discharge through the capillary opening 2. This It is, therefore, an object of my invention to' provide a high efliciency ion generator.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an electron generator in which the ions are generated-in a gaseous medium as they flow from the generator.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an electron generator shown appliedto an ion accelerating device; and J Fig. 2 is a similar illustration showing a plurality of ion generatorsapplied to an electric generating device.

In the illustrative embodiment of my invention according to Fig. 1, the ion generator comprises a hollow chamber I made of suitable insulating material, such as glass or quartz, and

discharge ionizes the gasfiowing throughthe capillary 2; the ions being carried along by a the flowing gas so that substantially all are car- In the embodiment according to Fig. -2, a

plurality of ion generators are shown connected to an electric generator II in which gases of combustion are expanded to low pressure and high velocity and then ionized as they pass into the working chamber of the generator. Because of the large number of ions required in the electric generator, I prefer to utilize a plurality of such ion generators. While it is indicated above that I may use any suitable ionizing gas, I prefer to use deuterium (heavy hydrogen) as the ionizable medium where neutrons are desired to effect nuclear transformations.

In general, the formula for determining the constants of the various portions of the generator is as follows: =capacity in farads x applied voltage X 2: frequency; the capacity:

whene A is the area in square centimeters of the active surface of the capillary electrode 8; c is the dielectric constant of the capillary material; and d is the diameter in centimeters of the capillary opening 2.

Assuming that one milliampere of current is required and selecting a capillary wall thickness of one millimeter and applied voltage of 10,000

F=l2,500. cycles.

While for purposes of description I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that changes and modifications can be made therein without descom of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

parting from the spirit of my invention or the 1. An ion generator for supplying high energy ions to a low pressure ion consuming device comprising a vitreous chamber, a source of heavy hydrogen connected to said chamber, a' capillary tube outlet of dielectric material connecting said chamber to the consuming device, an electrode in said chamber, an electrode adjacent said outlet and a-source of high frequency power connected to said electrodes for producing a high frequency 3. An ion generator comprising a chamber of insulating .material, a tubular outlet of small cross section area, said tubular outlet being constructed of insulating material, nieans for' causing a flow of ionizable gas outward through said tubular outlet, an electrode in' said chamberQan electrode in capacitive relation to said outlet, and means for'producing a high frequency discharge between said electrodes for ionizing the gas flowing through said tubular outlet.

4. Anion generator comprising an insulating chamber, a tube of insulating material forming a tubular discharge opening in said chamber,

' means for introducing an ionizable gas into said chamber at suflicient pressure .to insure the gas flowing through said discharge opening,- an elec-' trode'external to said discharge opening, an electrode in said chamber and a source of high'frequency power connected to-said electrodes for producing a high frequency discharge for ionizing the gas passing through said discharge opening." I

5. An ion generator for producing ions for use external to the ion generator comprising a chamber composed of insulating material, a leak inthe side wall of said chamber to admit ionizable fluid thereto, a capillary tube of insulating material forming an outlet from said chamber and means for producing a high frequency discharge for ionizing the fluid passing through said capillary outlet.

6. An ion generator comprising a chamber,

;means for admitting gas into said chamber, a

capillary tube of insulating material forming an outlet for permitting gas to flow from said chamber and means for ionizing the gas passing through the capillary tube.

'7. An ion, generator comprising a chamber,

means for admitting gas into said chamber, a capillary tube of dielectric material forming an outlet for permitting gas to flowfrom said chamber, and high frequency discharge means for ionizing the gas passing through the capillary 8. An ion generator comprising a capillary tube of insulating material, means for causing a flow of ionizable gas through said capillary tube and high frequency discharge means for ionizing the gas passing through said capillary tube.

JOSEPH SLEPIAN.