Patent · US Expired

Plasma focus light source with improved pulse power system

US6815700B2 · kind B2 · utility

69Cited by
56References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 3, 2002
Grant dateNov 9, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 9, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05H1/06
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention provides a high energy photon source. A pair of plasma pinch electrodes are located in a vacuum chamber. The chamber contains a working gas which includes a noble buffer gas and an active gas chosen to provide a desired spectral line. A pulse power source provides electrical pulses at voltages high enough to create electrical discharges between the electrodes to produce very high temperature, high density plasma pinches in the working gas providing radiation at the spectral line of the source or active gas. Preferably the electrodes are configured co-axially. The central electrode is preferably hollow and the active gas is introduced out of the hollow electrode. This permits an optimization of the spectral line source and a separate optimization of the buffer gas. In preferred embodiments the central electrode is pulsed with a high negative electrical pulse so that the central electrode functions as a hollow cathode. Preferred embodiments present optimization of capacitance values, anode length and shape and preferred active gas delivery systems are disclosed. Preferred embodiments also include a pulse power system comprising a charging capacitor and a magneti…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.