A dielectric electrode assembly, and a method (600) of manufacture thereof, including: a dielectric tube (226) having a cylindrical cross-section and a relative dielectric constant, ε2, the dielectric tube (226) filled with a gas having a relative dielectric constant, ε1; a structural dielectric (225) having a relative dielectric constant, ε3 surrounding the dielectric tube (226); metal electrodes (224) on opposite sides of the structural dielectric (225), the metal electrodes (224) having a flat cross-sectional geometry; and the structural dielectric (225) made from a material selected such that the relative dielectric constants of the structural dielectric (225), the dielectric tube (226), and the gas are interrelated and an approximately uniform electric field is generated within the dielectric tube (226) when power is applied to the metal electrodes (224).