Abstract:
The hollow cathode gas discharge device is configured with a maximized cathode-to-anode area ratio to operate in a lowpressure glow discharge mode to generate a plasme of adequate density from which electrons or ions can be extracted and accelerated. This permits the gas pressure to be kept low to avoid Paschen breakdown in the high voltage acceleration region. The invention herein described was made in the course of or under a Contract or subcontract thereunder with the Department of the Navy.
Abstract:
A system is provided for producing repeatable, short-duration pulses of infrared radiation suitable for optical purposes. Radiation is produced by electrically parallel arcs, which are induced within a flash tube containing an inert gas at low pressure and are guided into paths in the form of nonplanar loops whose branches are adjacent one another. The flash tube, which is of a volume sufficient to maintain relatively low gas density during arc discharge, is shaped to accommodate the arc paths and to provide a compact optical source for the radiation.