Converging-barrel plasma accelerator

Claim 2

An improved plasma accelerator comprising a hollow truncated conical first electrode, means evacuating said first electrode, a central rod electrode disposed coaxially of said first electrode out of contact therewith, insulating means engaging said first electrode at the large end thereof and mounting said rod electrode, means defining a small chamber openly communicating with the interior of said first electrode at the large end thereof and insulated from at least one of said electrodes, means for rapidly injecting a small controlled amount of gas into said chamber, and high-voltage supply means connected between said electrodes for establishing electrical discharge between electrodes as gas enters said first electrode from said chamber to ionize the gas and form a plasma that very rapidly travels through said first electrode toward a focus.

Claim 3

The accelerator of claim 1 further defined by said first electrode comprising an anode, said rod electrode comprising a cathode, and said rod electrode having a tapered configuration with a decreasing cross section toward the small end of said first electrode.

Claim 4

The accelerator of claim 1 further defined by said insulating means defining said small chamber as an annular depression about said rod electrode beyond the large end of said first electrode.

Claim 5

The accelerator of claim 3 further defined by said rod electrode being apertured to receive said burst of gas and substantially evenly distribute said gas in said chamber.

Claim 6

The accelerator of claim 1 further defined by said first electrode having a taper in the range of 3* to 5*.

Claim 7

The accelerator of claim 1 further defined by said means for injecting gas including a solenoid-operated disc valve and a pressurized gas source connected through said valve to said chamber.

Claim 8

An improved plasma generator and accelerator comprising a hollow conical anode having open ends, means for evacuating said anode to a high vacuum, a conical cathode disposed coaxially within said anode with the small cathode end adjacent the small anode end, insulating means closing the large end of said anode and mounting said cathode therein, said insulator defining an annular chamber about said cathode at the large end of said anode, means including a rapid-acting valve introducing a limited amount of gas into said chamber uniformly thereabout whereby the gas expands as a high-pressure front into the region directly between said anode and cathode, and a high-voltage power supply connected between said anode and cathode for establishing electrical breakdown therebetween as said gas expands from said chamber to ionize the gas and produce a plasma that travels through said anode toward a focus.

Claim 9

An improved plasma generator and accelerator comprising a hollow conical anode having open ends, means for evacuating said anode to a high vacuum, a conical cathode disposed coaxially within said anode with the small cathode end adjacent the small anode end, insulating means closing the large end of said anode and mounting said cathode therein, said insulator defining an annular chamber about said cathode at the large end of said anode, means including a rapid-acting valve introducing a limited amount of gas into said chamber uniformly thereabout whereby the gas expands as a high-pressure front into the region directly between said anode and cathode, and a high-voltage power supply connected between said anode and cathode for establishing electrical breakdown therebetween as said gas expands from said chamber to ionize the gas and produce a plasma that travels through said anode toward a focus.