Abstract:
A method and apparatus for stabilizing glow plasma discharges by suppressing the transition from glow-to-arc includes a perforated dielectric plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and a plurality of holes extending therethrough. The perforated dielectric plate is positioned over the cathode. Each of the holes acts as a separate active current limiting micro-channel that prevents the overall current density from increasing above the threshold for the glow-to-arc transition. This allows for a stable glow discharge to be maintained for a wide range of operating pressures (up to atmospheric pressures) and in a wide range of electric fields include DC and RF fields of varying strength.
Abstract:
Microplasma generators and associated arrays and methods are described herein. Certain embodiments relate to a microplasma generator in which an elongated semiconductor structure can control electronic current supplied to a microplasma cavity.
Abstract:
This invention is directed to an article comprising a transparent substrate and an electrically conductive transparent coating deposited on the transparent substrate. This invention is also directed to methods for preparing the electrically conductive transparent coating and depositing the coating on the transparent substrate. This invention is further directed to devices containing such articles. The electrically conductive transparent coating comprises carbon nanotubes filled, coated, or both filled and coated by a non-carbon material.
Abstract:
A high power pseudospark switch (40) utilizes a coaxial cylindrical electrode geometry to provide a large number of pseudospark discharge channels (60) in a compact space. The coaxial cylindrical electrode geometry includes a hollow cylindrical anode (52) inside of a large hollow cylindrical cathode (54). A plurality of radially aligned holes (57, 59) are equally spaced around the perimeter of both the hollow anode and cathode, thereby forming an annular pseudospark discharge (PSD) channel about the coaxial center axis. A plurality of such PSD channels (56, 58) are then stacked along the length of the coaxial cylindrical electrode geometry. A single trigger pulser (48) aligned with the center axis of the cylindrical electrodes provides a way for simultaneously triggering a discharge in each PSD channel. An outer switch housing, divided into two electrically-insulated portions (47, 49) surrounds the coaxial cylindrical electrodes and provides structural support for the electrodes as well as an electrical contact with the electrodes. A non-conductive seal (43) positioned between the respective housing portions maintains electrical isolation between the respective electrodes, and further allows a specified gast to be maintained within the switch housing at a prescribed pressure, thereby promoting operation of the device on the left side of the Paschen curve.
Abstract:
A discharge display having excellent discharge characteristics and high reliability is put into practice without permitting pinholes to develop in the film for emitting secondary electrons and enabling the film for emitting secondary electrons to fully exhibit its performance. For this purpose, a metal conductor in a discharge vessel has a thickness of 1 to 5 νm, and on this metal conductor is formed a 0.5 to 2 νm-thick film for emitting secondary electrons. This film is composed of a compound obtained by adding Ba in an amount of 0.01 to 20 mol % to LaB6, or composed of a compound comprising LaB6, Ba in an amount of 0.01 to 20 mol % with respect to LaB6, and Ca in an amount of 0.01 to 5 mol % with respect to Ba.
Abstract:
There is provided a vacuum switching assembly for switching an AC or DC current. The vacuum switching assembly comprises a vacuum switch. The vacuum switch includes: first and second electrodes (20, 22) located in a vacuum tight enclosure, the vacuum tight enclosure containing a gas or gas mixture, the first and second electrodes (20, 22) defining opposed electrodes being separated by a gap, each of the first and second electrodes (20,22) being connectable to a respective electrical circuit carrying an AC or DC voltage; and a pressure controller (36) configured to control an internal pressure of the vacuum tight enclosure, wherein the pressure controller (36) is configured to selectively switch the internal pressure of the vacuum tight enclosure between: a first vacuum level that permits formation and maintenance of a glow discharge in the vacuum tight enclosure to allow a current to flow between the first and second electrodes (20, 22) via the glow discharge so as to turn on the vacuum switch; and a second vacuum level that inhibits formation and maintenance of a glow discharge in the vacuum tight enclosure to prevent a current from flowing between the first and second electrodes (20, 22) via the glow discharge so as to turn off the vacuum switch.