Patent ID: 7872406

Claim:
An apparatus for generating, accelerating and propagating beams of electrons and plasma at high density, comprising: a first dielectric tube, which contains gas; a hollow cathode, which is connected hermetically to said first dielectric tube; a second dielectric tube, which is connected hermetically to said hollow cathode and protrudes inside, and is connected to, a deposition chamber; an anode, which is arranged around said second dielectric tube, in an intermediate position; means for applying voltage to said cathode and said anode; means for evacuating the gas from said deposition chamber so that the pressure in the deposition chamber is lower than the pressure within the first dielectric tube; means for the spontaneous conversion of the gas into plasma within the first dielectric tube; and control means for controlling the beginning of the spontaneous conversion of the gas into plasma in the first dielectric tube, said control means comprising means for ionization by induction of an electromagnetic field suitable to produce ionization of the gas.