Plasma Generator
A plasma generator having a rod electrode, a ring electrode, and an electromagnet disposed to contain and rotate plasma located between the rod electrode and ring electrode.
1 . A method for generating a plasma comprising:
providing a first electrode;
providing a second electrode;
supplying power to the second electrode with a first power supply;
generating a magnetic field with a second power supply; and
coordinating a discharge of power from the first power supply and a discharge of power from the second power supply,
wherein the discharge of power from the first power supply generates a plasma between the first electrode and the second electrode; and
wherein the magnetic field resulting from the discharge of power from the second power supply rotates the plasma.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of coordinating comprises causing a peak output of the first power supply to occur at substantially the same time as a peak output of the second power supply.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of coordinating comprises causing the peak output of the first power supply to occur within approximately one millisecond of the peak output of the second power supply.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising disposing an impedance circuit between the first power supply and the second electrode.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the impedance circuit matches an impedance of the first power supply to an impedance of the second electrode and a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first power supply comprises a third power supply and a fourth power supply.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the third power supply supplies a voltage and the fourth power supply supplies a current.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a second electrode comprises disposing the second electrode within a boundary of the first electrode.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is configured as a loop.
10 . An apparatus comprising:
a rod electrode;
a ring electrode surrounding the rod electrode, the ring electrode having an axis aligned with and centered on said rod electrode; and
an annular electrical winding surrounding the ring electrode, the annular electrical winding having an axis aligned with and centered on said rod electrode.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 further including a current power supply connected to the rod electrode.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 10 further including an initiator power supply connected between the rod electrode and the ring electrode.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 10 further including a deflection field power supply connected to said annular electrical winding.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the initiator power supply has sufficient voltage to generate a plasma in space between the rod electrode and the ring electrode.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the current power supply supplies current to sustain a plasma after it has been initiated.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the deflection field power supply is operated to contain the plasma and to rotate it.
17 . A method for operating a plasma generation, wherein the plasma generator comprises:
a rod electrode;
a ring electrode surrounding the rod electrode, the ring electrode having an axis aligned with and centered on said rod electrode;
an annular electrical winding surrounding the ring electrode, the annular electrical winding having an axis aligned with and centered on said rod electrode;
a current power supply connected to the rod electrode;
an initiator power supply connected between the rod electrode and the ring electrode; and
a deflection field power supply connected to said annular electrical winding;
the method comprising:
in order,
generating a pulse for the deflection field power supply;
generating a pulse for the initiator power supply; and
generating a pulse for the current power supply.