Abstract:
Apparatus for the selective excitation of a gaseous region including a chamber enclosing a gas and containing cathode means having a plurality of portions positioned in a first predetermined pattern, and anode means having a plurality of portions positioned in a corresponding pattern. A voltage normally insufficient to cause conduction is impressed between anode and cathode and scan means is provided for causing successive corona discharges which sequentially establish charge carriers in the space between successive portion of the cathode and successive portions of the anode. The charge carriers, in turn, enable heavy conduction between cathode and anode in successive regions of space. The scan means thus addresses the heavy conduction, which can be viewed directly, as in a plasma display device, or used to establish desired modes od oscillation in a laser capable of a plurality of modes of oscillation.