Patent Number: 043354653
Section: description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the basic principle of the present invention with two planar-parallel and, for example, circular electrodes 1, 1', to which are applied a voltage U. In order to prevent any spark-over in the area of the recess edges 3 of the electrodes, they are at that point separated from one another by means of an insulation 4, for example a rotating annular disc comprising an insulating material. Each electrode is provided with a hole or a borehole 5, which are aligned and forming the gas discharge channel, having a concentric axis 6 which runs at right angles to the plane of the electrode. The shape of the boreholes may be round, square or in slot-shape. The boreholes 5 and the inner chamber 7 between the electrodes are provided with an ionisable low pressure gas which in a preferred embodiment is hydrogen gas. In general, reference is here made to the embodiments described hereinbelow. It has now been established that with a predetermined voltage value U there develops a spark-like gas-discharge according to the lines 8. There is given the following equation: EQU U.about.1/(p.multidot.d).sup.3 whereby p represents the pressure in the inner chamber 7 and d represents the distance between of the two electrodes. In an arrangement of more than two electrodes (for example FIG. 2) d represents approximately the distance of the individual electrodes from each other, and U represents the voltage between these two electrodes. As already mentioned above, the product p.times.d=0.05-0.5 mbar.times.mm is preferred. Thus, as also mentioned above, at an electrode distance d of 1 mm and hydrogen gas with a low pressure of 0.5 mbar inside the electrodes meet this criterion. From the borehole 5 of cathode 1 exits an electron flow 9 and from the borehole 5 of anode 1' exits the electron flow 10. The insulation 4 protects the outer edges 3 of the electrodes among each other and in view of the respective other electrodes against gas-discharges. With the above-given equation, under consideration of the geometric conditions of the particle accelerator, it is possible to establish the voltage under which it breaks down to the explained spark-like gas-discharge. In some situations, the outflow opening for the ion-flow is not required, for example, in a neutron generator formed by the electrodes, whereby a target is producing neutrons under ion-bombardement in the path of beams within the electrodes. It is recommended to produce the electrodes out of metals which have little tendency of sputtering, for example, tantalum or aluminum. With the present invention, as tests have proven, it is possible during discharge of the natural capacitance of the particle accelerator, formed by the electrodes, to obtain 100 A electron flow and 10 A ion flow at voltages between 5 to 20 KV for the duration of a few nano-seconds. During a periodic discharge of such a system, frequencies of up to about 1 MHz can be obtained. Since in many applications of the present invention (see the later explained embodiments) not only high strengths of currents but also very high voltages of the out-flowing particles are required, it is recommended according to FIG. 2 to provide a greater, randomly electable number of electrodes 2. In this example, the two outermost of the electrodes 2 are connected to the voltage U. Additionally, an external condensor C may be provided for increasing the capacity. In general, the same reference numerals as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 hold true here. Only the insulating housing is herein different according to FIG. 11, where it extends beyond the outer walls of the electrodes. Also in this embodiment there is recommended a circular or cylindrical form of the electrodes and the housing. At a corresponding voltage U there takes place a continuous gas-discharge, whereby, however, the plasma in the vicinity of the (fictive) opening- or borehole-axis contracts itself still more sharply. FIG. 3 shows also a multitude of planar-parallel electrodes, whereby only each outermost electrode 2 is enumerated. All electrodes are located within the insulating housing 11, whereby, however, a further potentiometer consisting of the resistor R1 and R2 is proposed. There exist here furthermore two rows of openings or boreholes 5' and 5" which form two discharge channels 6, 6". Two electron-flows 10', 10" are thusly meeting in a mutual point 12, whereby there is obtained a correspondingly large energy-density. The exiting ion-flows are indicated by numerals 9', 9". FIG. 4 shows a variant similar as FIG. 3. The electrodes 2 have here the identical distance. They are however concentrically curved towards point 12 in which are meeting the electron-flows 10', 10". In all above-mentioned embodiments, there may be provided voltage dividers and/or external capacities. A particle accelerator according to the present invention comprising one or a plurality of electrodes also operable without voltage applied to the interim electrodes. The values for the interim electrodes, which are located between the outer electrodes, develop by themselves due to the geometric arrangement and the discharge. It is necessary to retain the insulation therebetween however (see FIG. 2). The electrode input lines, i.e., the electrodes extending from the housing, must be cemented together with the recesses of the housing. The dielectric strength, i.e., the voltage required for the gas-discharge, in a system comprising more than two electrodes is correspondingly higher than in a dual-electrode system. As long as the diameters of the openings or boreholes 5 and the electrode-density are retained approximately in a size-order such as the electrode distances d, the gas discharge system produces practically no limitation with regard to the number of electrodes and therewith the voltage. Under the verbage "approximately in a size-arrangement" is thereby understood that the dimensions of the above-mentioned parts may deviate up to approximately the factor 3. In this manner, it is possible, by means of suitable series-switching--ultimately under utilization of suitable voltage dividers--in systems comprising many electrodes, to obtain acceleration voltages for particles up to multiple million volts (V). Tests have proven that the diameters of the exiting ion- and electron-flows are generally substantially smaller than the diameters of the boreholes or holes 5, and thereby in general are one third of the borehole diameter. This condition is due to a magneto-hydrodynamic consolidation of an electron-flow in the low pressure gas (effect of the so-called self-focusing). This diameter enlarges itself not substantially when external condensators are switched thereto, however, the flow-strengths increase substantially, e.g. up to several thousand amperes (A). It is anticipated that this value can be increased so that flow densities of the electron-flow of up to 10.sup.8 A/mm.sup.2 can be reached. The exiting ion-flows are smaller by about one size-order. The timely duration of discharge is of the size order of a few nano-second, whereby, however, a practically constant effect develops due to the constant pulsation of such flows with a relatively high frequency, for the application of the present invention as disclosed hereinbelow. FIG. 5 shows a trigger-switching according to which the upper electrode 2' can be placed onto the positive and the lower electrode 2" can be placed onto the negative trigger-voltage, while the central electrode 2, which here forms the cathode, is grounded. Downwardly-connected are a plurality of electrodes, of which the electrode 2"'forms the anode. The trigger-voltage would however also be connectable to each of the other electrodes. Due to this artificial ignition by means of switching a trigger-voltage with the voltage U already existing at the anode and at the cathode, the ignition point can be determined very precisely. This is then of importance when a plurality of particle accelerators should be ignited simultaneously (see for example FIG. 10). The timely precision with which the trigger-process becomes effective can be increased when in the anode- or cathode-chamber (so-called front chamber) there burns a continuous luminous current. The energy may be supplied to the electrodes and the capacity C by means of a resistance RC, indicated by the broken line. A periodic discharge is possible, in order to obtain pulsated electrical energy for technical purposes, so that the total system may be utilized as an "electrical switch", whereby the period is regulatable by changing the trigger frequency. FIGS. 6 and 7 show arrangements comprising a plurality of electron plates representing the source for ions and electrons. A voltage U1 on the anode-side is provided with voltage U2 at the cathode side further accelerating the particles, so that an intensified electron beam 10 as well as an also intensified ion beam 9 exits at the respective opening 14, 13. The voltage U2, which serves for the postacceleration of the ions, lies at the electrodes 15' of the cathode-side, and may be formed by the voltage-dividers R4, R5. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, there exists in the electrode 15 at the anode-side an exit opening 13. Adjacent thereto is a chamber 16, in which, by means of a holder 17, serviceable from the outside, a workpiece 18 is retained in the electron-beam 10 and which can be treated by the same. In chamber 16 and in the inner space 17 of the particle accelerator, the low pressure is retained by means of a pump 18. Numeral 19 designates the gas-supply. The electron-flow, or also an exiting ion-flow, may be utilized for the production of boreholes, for milling, for removing of materials, or for melting, or evaporation of materials. It is understood that also a plurality of electrodes 2 above those shown in the drawing, could be provided. This holds also true for the remaining embodiments. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the chamber 16 is not being utilized. The outer anode plate 15 is constructed as a restrictor, whereby the opening 13' has a correspondingly small diameter. It forms, for the outside atmosphere, a flow-resistance which is so great that the low pressure in the particle accelerator can be retained without difficulty by means of pump 18. The electron-beam 10 serves for treating a part 18 which lies outside the particle accelerator in the normal atmosphere. The ion-flow exits at 14'. The embodiment of FIG. 8 shows a particle accelerator which is also open toward the cathode-side, whereby however the voltage U lies only between the anode 20 and the cathode 21. Adjacent this cathode 21 is a series of electrodes 22 at the exit-side situated at the right in the drawing, placed on the potential of electrodes or cathodes 21. Due to these electrical neutral drift paths there results a neutral particle flow of electro-plasma and ions having a high particle volume. This may, for instance, be utilized as propulstion of an ion-rocket, whereby the housing 23 is built into the ion-rocket, or is formed by the same. There is no pump required in this case since the pressure of the outer space into which the beam flows is equal to 0. Sufficient gas-supply should be provided. FIG. 9 shows a particle accelerator wherein parts which are of no interest have been eliminated, whereby the ion-flow 25 exiting from the cathode 24 contacts either a gas 26, for example deuterium, or a material 27, for example beryllium to release there a neutron-emission. The ion-flow is here being utilized for the nuclear reaction. FIG. 10 shows an arrangement of a plurality of particle accelerators on a spherical bowl or a support member 28 which corresponds to a spherical bowl. It represents a three-dimensional arrangement of particle accelerators 29 having their gas-discharge channels 30 directed towards a fusion-pellet 31, which is located at the center point of the bowl. This may comprise a thin gold-bowl within which is located a so-called target. Since the electron beams are stopped by the gold bowl, temperatures of 100 million .degree.C., which are necessary for nuclear fusion, can develop in the target. The member 31 is known in itself, it represents pellet-fusion. Unknown however is the production of the energy of electron-beams according to the present invention. According to FIG. 11, a chamber 32 filled with gas is located at the electron-exiting side, whereby the gas content is brought to glow by means of the electron flow 33. There may also be a chamber 34 at the ion-exiting side, and be filled with a gas which is brought to glow by means of the ion-flow 35. The gas is always a high-pressure gas, for example xenon. It is hereby possible to produce a pulsated light source for pumping up laser beams. FIG. 12 shows in addition to the electrode 38 at the anode-side a housing 36 with a brake-anode 37, which is stimulated to emit X-ray beams due to the impact of the electron-beam 10. The characteristics disclosed in the examples of embodiments, for example switches, may analogously also be provided for the other embodiments and vice-versa.