Patent ID: 6559408
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A method for dissociating gases comprising:a) confining a gas in a plasma chamber at a pressure; b) providing a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the chamber and having a primary winding; c) generating an AC current using a solid state AC switching power supply comprising one or more switching semiconductor devices and having an output that is coupled to the primary winding of the transformer; d) inducing an AC potential inside the plasma chamber by supplying the current to the primary winding, the induced AC potential forming a toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and that dissociates the gas; e) measuring the current supplied to the primary winding; f) comparing the measured current to a predetermined setpoint representative of a desired operating condition; and g) adjusting one or more electrical parameters of the AC switching power supply to control the current supplied to the primary winding.