Patent Number: 043354653
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns firstly a method for producing and accelerating electrons and ions under application of a voltage, whereby electrodes are proposed which, under the influence of a voltage, supply electrons, and a gas being proposed which, under low pressure, supplies electrons and ions. It is known in the art to produce electron flows in a vacuum by means of thermionic emission or by point discharges, and to consequently accelerate in a corresponding voltage field. The current densities which are thereby obtainable are insufficient. In the prior art, electrons which were produced in a vacuum have been deposited through a thin foil into a chamber in which is located a gas which is under low pressure. Eventhough it is possible to thus obtain in this low-pressure area electron flows having a high current density, however, the amount of instruments required is very high and the effect is unsatisfactory. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the scope of the present invention to provide not only a method but also a particle-accelerator and arrangements formed therewith, which, at a substantially higher effectiveness, produce an electron flow and in given cases also an electron flow of a very high current density with comparatively simple instruments. The present invention utilizes a method of the above-mentioned species of the invention, with electrodes which are located at a distance apart from one another and are screened outwardly. At least one gas discharge channel is provided, which is formed of aligned openings of at least the inner electrodes. Within the electrodes provision is made for an ionisable low pressure gas to be placed, and for the electrodes to be connected to a voltage of a strength so that it substantially collapses in a spark-like gas-discharge. One obtains thereby a controlled spark penetration, which may also be characterized as a "pseudo-spark". The current density which is obtainable in the low pressure gas is substantially higher than the density of an electron- or ion-flow in the vacuum. The low-pressure spark-discharge which is obtainable by means of the present invention is stable and reproducable. While in many methods for producing an electron- or ion-flow the effectiveness lies in the area of 0.1 to 1%, an effectiveness of 30% and higher can be obtained with the present invention. In comparison with the common spark penetrations, however, the developing sporadic process of the spark-channel and the developing contraction in the actual discharge-path in the gas chamber is prevented, in so far as the inside pressure between the electrodes is maintained correspondingly low. The difference from a vacuum which differs in its pressure from a low pressure by multiple ten percent should be noted. While, for example, with the present invention at an electrode-distance of one millimeter there resulted a preferred low pressure value of 0.5 mbar, the pressures of a vacuum are in the area of 10.sup.-3 to 10.sup.-4. In contrast to the vacuum-discharge, the low-pressure gas content in the instant invention has an active function. The above-noted effects, or advantages, are produced in that the low pressure gas-discharge is made not at the outside edge of the electrodes but in the gas-discharge channel. The discharge is localized there. In this low pressure electrode system under application of a voltage there develops the tendency of transition in a type spark-discharge and simultaneously the localization of this discharge in the area of the discharge channel. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention which is not limited to the aforesaid, it is proposed that the product p.times.d be located in the size arrangement of 0.05 to 0.5 mbar.times.mm. Thereby, p represents the inside pressure between the electrodes in mbar, and d represents the distance in mm between the individual electrodes. Additional embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail in the special description of the drawings. The present invention further concerns a particle accelerator for performing the above-mentioned method and proposes in this regard at least two electrodes at equidistance; that at least the inner electrodes have each an opening, whereby associated openings of electrodes are along one line and forming the gas discharge channel; that the outer surfaces or outer edges of the electrodes are enclosed by an insulating housing, and that means for gas-supply and, if required, for producing the low pressure necessary inside the electrodes, are provided. Such a particle accelerator may be manufactured with a relatively low constructive expenditure and therefore at comparatively low costs. It distinguishes itself, however by the afore-mentioned high efficiency. In toto, a very efficient production of electron- or ion-flows is obtained. According to the embodiments of the present invention, outflow-openings may be provided at one end or at both ends of the gas-discharge channel for the accelerated electrical particles. In special cases of application, it would also be possible not to provide for any outflow-openings.