A gas ionization apparatus for delivering a clean ionized gas stream to a charge neutralization target, the apparatus receiving at least one non-ionized gas stream having a pressure and an ionizing electrical potential sufficient to induce corona discharge, the apparatus comprising: at least one through-channel for receiving the non-ionized gas stream and for delivering the clean ionized gas stream to the target; at least one shell assembly comprising: a shell positioned coaxially inside the through-channel and having a shell orifice in gas communication with the through-channel such that a portion of the non-ionized gas stream may enter the shell; at least one evacuation port that presents a gas pressure within the shell and in the vicinity of the shell orifice that is lower than the pressure of the non-ionized gas stream outside the shell and in the vicinity of the shell orifice; and at least one ionizing electrode for producing a plasma region at an emitter tip proximal to the shell orifice, the plasma region comprising ions (10,11) and byproducts in response to application of the ionizing electrical potential to the emitter tip; wherein the ionizing electrode is disposed within and along a central axis of the shell such that the emitter tip is recessed from the shell orifice by a distance that is substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of the plasma region such that at least a substantial portion of the produced ions (10,11) may migrate into the non- ionized gas stream to thereby form the clean ionized gas stream and such that the evacuation port gas pressure induces a portion of the non-ionized gas stream to flow into the shell orifice to thereby sweep at least a substantial portion of the byproducts into the evacuation port, wherein the shell orifice is generally circular and has a diameter; and wherein a ratio of the shell orifice diameter and the recess distance is between about 0.5 and about 2.0. at least one through-channel for receiving the non-ionized gas stream and for delivering the clean ionized gas stream to the target; at least one shell assembly comprising: a shell positioned coaxially inside the through-channel and having a shell orifice in gas communication with the through-channel such that a portion of the non-ionized gas stream may enter the shell; at least one evacuation port that presents a gas pressure within the shell and in the vicinity of the shell orifice that is lower than the pressure of the non-ionized gas stream outside the shell and in the vicinity of the shell orifice; and at least one ionizing electrode for producing a plasma region at an emitter tip proximal to the shell orifice, the plasma region comprising ions (10,11) and byproducts in response to application of the ionizing electrical potential to the emitter tip; wherein the ionizing electrode is disposed within and along a central axis of the shell such that the emitter tip is recessed from the shell orifice by a distance that is substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of the plasma region such that at least a substantial portion of the produced ions (10,11) may migrate into the non- ionized gas stream to thereby form the clean ionized gas stream and such that the evacuation port gas pressure induces a portion of the non-ionized gas stream to flow into the shell orifice to thereby sweep at least a substantial portion of the byproducts into the evacuation port, wherein the shell orifice is generally circular and has a diameter; and a shell positioned coaxially inside the through-channel and having a shell orifice in gas communication with the through-channel such that a portion of the non-ionized gas stream may enter the shell; at least one evacuation port that presents a gas pressure within the shell and in the vicinity of the shell orifice that is lower than the pressure of the non-ionized gas stream outside the shell and in the vicinity of the shell orifice; and at least one ionizing electrode for producing a plasma region at an emitter tip proximal to the shell orifice, the plasma region comprising ions (10,11) and byproducts in response to application of the ionizing electrical potential to the emitter tip; wherein a ratio of the shell orifice diameter and the recess distance is between about 0.5 and about 2.0.