Engineering
Low Voltage Drop, Cross-Field, Gas Switch And Method Of Operation
WARF: P180151US01
Inventors: James Lawler, William Hitchon, Tim Sommerer, David Smith, Steve Aceto, Jason Trotter, Joseph Michael, Kirk Marquard
The Invention
A gas switch includes an anode and a cathode spaced apart from the anode, wherein the cathode includes a conduction surface. The gas switch also includes a plurality of magnets arranged to generate a magnetic field that defines an annular path over a portion of the conduction surface at a radial distance from a switch axis, and a control grid positioned between the anode and the cathode. In operation, the control grid is arranged to establish a conducting plasma between the anode and the cathode, wherein, in the presence of the conducting plasma, a voltage drop between the anode and the cathode is less than 150 volts, and wherein the conducting plasma forms a cathode spot that circles the annular path.
Tech Fields
For current licensing status, please contact Emily Bauer at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9842