Patent ID: 6512333
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: H05H

Abstract:
An RF-powered plasma accelerator/homogenizer that produces a quiescent plasma having a generally homogenous preselected plasma potential VPA from a primary plasma, comprising:an RF-conductive accelerator/homogenizer structure having a total dielectric coated accelerator/homogenizer surface area ARF that comprises a plurality of dielectric coated accelerator/homogenizer surfaces quasi-uniformly dispersed throughout the primary plasma, an RF source reactively coupled to said RF-conductive accelerator/homogenizer structure with a coupling device, said RF source produces an RF voltage within said accelerator/homogenizer structure that causes said plurality of dielectric coated accelerator/homogenizer surfaces to absorb thermal electrons from the primary plasma; and a containment assembly coupled to said RF-conductive accelerator/homogenizer structure, said containment assembly comprises an RF-grounded structure having a total ground surface area AG, wherein ARF>AG, said containment assembly holds the quiescent plasma at the generally homogenous preselected plasma potential VPA.