US2925512A - High energy gaseous discharge device - Google Patents

High energy gaseous discharge device Download PDF

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Publication number
US2925512A
US2925512A US689017A US68901757A US2925512A US 2925512 A US2925512 A US 2925512A US 689017 A US689017 A US 689017A US 68901757 A US68901757 A US 68901757A US 2925512 A US2925512 A US 2925512A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
discharge
high energy
solenoid
envelope
gas
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US689017A
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English (en)
Inventor
Josephson Vernal
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
Priority to BE571603D priority Critical patent/BE571603A/xx
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US689017A priority patent/US2925512A/en
Priority to DEU5619A priority patent/DE1114587B/de
Priority to GB30028/58A priority patent/GB840017A/en
Priority to FR1203419D priority patent/FR1203419A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2925512A publication Critical patent/US2925512A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
    • H05H1/02—Arrangements for confining plasma by electric or magnetic fields; Arrangements for heating plasma
    • H05H1/10—Arrangements for confining plasma by electric or magnetic fields; Arrangements for heating plasma using externally-applied magnetic fields only, e.g. Q-machines, Yin-Yang, base-ball
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/10—Nuclear fusion reactors

Definitions

  • This invention relates to apparatus for producing high energy gas ionization discharges, i.e., plasmas.
  • Such apparatus has numerous uses such as in laboratory researches in the behavior of very hot plasmas, for the attainment of basic information in the atomic and kinetic behavior of atoms under such conditions.
  • a high energy gaseous discharge produces an exceedingly intense, and closely controlled in time, flash of light of particular value for high speed photography purposes.
  • Apparatus for producing high energy discharges forthe laboratory studies or other purposes above enumerated have hitherto been made of a vitreous material such as quartz, ceramic, porcelain or glass. It has been found that contamination of the gas being ionized and heated results from the use of such materials evaporating during the discharge. In fact, due to the necessity of preserving high purity in a particular gas being ionized, contamination from the vessel in effect makes the use of such prior art devices, in many cases, single shot devices. Also, there are circuit considerations which .limit the vessel wall thickness to a value which seriously restricts the use of the vessel to moderate energies because of its susceptibility to breakage under the resulting shock.
  • an elongated metal container or envelope 11 is provided for confining a gas and the resulting discharges.
  • the vessel 11 need not be made of metal insofar as contamination of the gas is concerned for the reason that it is shielded from the discharge by other structure in a manner which will presently become apparent.
  • a pair of main discharge electrodes 19 and 21 are disposed symmetrically with respect to the median line of envelope 11. Electrode 21 is directly electrically connected to one end of container 11. Electrode 19 is insulatingly supported by insulating members 23 in the opposite end of the container 11. The electrodes 19 and 21 are for the purpose of establishing an ionized discharge along the direction of elongation of envelope l1.
  • This conducting shield is-provided by a helix of a high conducting metal strap such as, for example, copper ribbonhaving such a plurality of turns as to constitute a solenoid, and having the ends thereof connected to the respective electrodes 12 and 21. Adjacent turns of the solenoid must be sufficiently spaced so as to prevent electrical discharge thereacross due to the potential applied to the solenoid. To the end that the plasma zone will be entirely confined by metallic surfaces, a second helix 15 of corresponding pitch to that of the first helix 13 is provided over and in staggered relation with respect,
  • the outer helix 15 be supported on inner helix 13 in an insulated fashion and accordingly insulated ribbon elements 17 are provided between the two solenoids.
  • the insulating material is out of the direct path of impingement of the ions and so does not result in contamination of the gas being heated.
  • the high conductivity of the metallic faces prevents the evaporating of the metal and accordingly eliminatesthe deleterious contamination of the gas.
  • a source of potential 24 is provided and is connected through the walls of envelope 11 to one end of the inner solenoid through jumper 33 and through electrode 19 and jumper 35 to the other end of the solenoid.
  • this source of potential would be impressed across the solenoid by the closure of switch 25 prior to the main discharge through the gas across electrodes 19 and 21.
  • the main discharge is generated by the closure of switch 29 which is connected in series with a high capacitance,'high potential capacitor 27.
  • the connecting circuit between capacitor 27 and the gaseous column is provided by envelope 11, electrode 21, electrode 19,
  • solenoid 13 has considerably higher inductance than that of the ionized path between electrodes 19 and 21, and, therefore, provides substantially an open circuit with respect to the main discharge potential.
  • a benefit of considerable importance resulting from the use of metal for the envelope is that the envelope together with the ion discharge provide in effect a co-axial line of low impedance. This admits of a very high amplitude of current discharge as well as the conservation of energy by the absence of an external magnetic field.
  • the inner solenoid has an internal radius of one inch and is fabricated of 10 mil copper straps 0.5 wide. 10 mil thick insulation is applied between. the outer and innersolenoids. The space between adjacent helices is about 0.3 inch. The solenoids are eight inches long, each having ten turns, substantially.
  • the applied voltage for C27, a 200 microfarad capacitor is 5 kv.
  • C25 also a 200 microfarad capacitor
  • the potential on C25 is not critical but is limited to 5 kv. so as to not exceed the breakdown voltage of the solenoid insulation.
  • Any value of longitudinal flux due to solenoid 13 augments the comever, and any value between 1 and 1000 microns of mer-' cury is suitable, although gas at an intermediate pressure of about 200 microns of mercury is more easily ionized than gas at extremely low or high pressures, as is well known in the art.
  • a window 30 is provided in the outer solenoid 15 and a vitreous Window 32 is provided in the Wall of container 11. j
  • Container purging means 12 and selected gas source and admitting means 14 are connected by ducts and associated valves with the discharge tube;
  • a device in accordance with the foregoing provides an all-metal surfaceto the discharge which eliminates breakage and contamination; it' allows one to produce an axial magnetic field entirely in the gas and therefore closely coupled with the discharge, and it permits precision timing of discharges.
  • a high energy gaseous discharge device comprising an elongated metal envelope, a main discharge electrode supported on and connected to an end wall of said envelope, a second main discharge electrode insulatingly supported in the opposite end wall of said envelope, at first helical winding of high conductive ribbon material spaced from lateral walls of said container and supported symmetrically about the median line between said electrodes and having its ends connected to a corresponding one of said electrodes, at second helical winding of ribbonlike metallic material supported exteriorly of said first helical winding and insulatingly supported thereon in staggered relation with the turns thereof; magnetic field generating electrical potential means, and a switch, means 4 2,803,772
  • a high energy gaseous discharge device comprising an elongated envelope for containing a selected gas, a pair of main discharge electrodes spacedly supported in said envelope, a cylindrical metal shell spaced from and supported symmetrically about the median line between the electrodes, said metal shell comprising an inner solenoid of flat metallic ribbon and an outer solenoid insulatingly supported over the inner solenoid and having its turns staggeredwith respect to the turns' of the inner ing an envelope, a pair of main discharge electrodes supported in opposition in said envelope, a metallic shell symmetrically disposed around and spaced from the discharge path between said electrodes, said metallic shell comprising a first element of spaced helical turns of metallic material and a second element of spaced helical turns of metallic material insulatedly supported in superposition outside said first element and with the turns overlapping the gap between the turns of the first element.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Plasma Technology (AREA)
US689017A 1957-10-08 1957-10-08 High energy gaseous discharge device Expired - Lifetime US2925512A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE571603D BE571603A (de) 1957-10-08
US689017A US2925512A (en) 1957-10-08 1957-10-08 High energy gaseous discharge device
DEU5619A DE1114587B (de) 1957-10-08 1958-09-19 Hochleistungsgasentladungs-Blitzlampe
GB30028/58A GB840017A (en) 1957-10-08 1958-09-19 High energy gaseous discharge devices
FR1203419D FR1203419A (fr) 1957-10-08 1958-09-30 Appareil pour décharges gazeuses de grande énergie

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US689017A US2925512A (en) 1957-10-08 1957-10-08 High energy gaseous discharge device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2925512A true US2925512A (en) 1960-02-16

Family

ID=24766738

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US689017A Expired - Lifetime US2925512A (en) 1957-10-08 1957-10-08 High energy gaseous discharge device

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US2925512A (de)
BE (1) BE571603A (de)
DE (1) DE1114587B (de)
FR (1) FR1203419A (de)
GB (1) GB840017A (de)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2653586C3 (de) * 1976-11-25 1982-01-07 EG & G, Inc., Bedford, Mass. Blitzlichtentladungslampe

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2266411A (en) * 1938-05-27 1941-12-16 Int Standard Electric Corp Electron tube
US2543227A (en) * 1948-10-15 1951-02-27 Western Union Telegraph Co Concentrated arc lamp
US2803772A (en) * 1955-01-12 1957-08-20 Gen Electric Apparatus for producing a hollow electron beam

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB592626A (en) * 1945-01-05 1947-09-24 Eric Arthur Howard French Improvements in or relating to high-pressure mercury vapour lamps
DE716509C (de) * 1935-12-29 1942-01-22 Julius Pintsch Kom Ges Gas- oder dampfgefuellte Bogenentladungslampe mit einem in Richtung der Entladungsbahn verlaufenden Magnetfeld
DE890990C (de) * 1943-09-24 1953-09-24 Frank Dr-Ing Fruengel Hoechstdrucklampe
DE971409C (de) * 1953-10-14 1959-01-22 Licentia Gmbh Vorrichtung zur stromproportionalen Kompensation magnetischer Stoerfelder bei Stromrichtergefaessen
DE954983C (de) * 1953-10-27 1956-12-27 Licentia Gmbh Anordnung zur Beeinflussung eines Lichtbogens bei Quecksilberdampf- Entladungsgefaessen

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2266411A (en) * 1938-05-27 1941-12-16 Int Standard Electric Corp Electron tube
US2543227A (en) * 1948-10-15 1951-02-27 Western Union Telegraph Co Concentrated arc lamp
US2803772A (en) * 1955-01-12 1957-08-20 Gen Electric Apparatus for producing a hollow electron beam

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1203419A (fr) 1960-01-18
BE571603A (de)
GB840017A (en) 1960-07-06
DE1114587B (de) 1961-10-05

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