Patent ID: 8810121

Claim:
A device for generating a hot, long-lived plasma comprising: a cylindrical metal tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter and a central channel; a metal piston disposed within the central channel; a conducting central electrode, having a centrally formed cavity; a conducting rod having an encircling notch, wherein: a first portion of said conducting rod is attached within said metal piston, a second portion of said conducting rod having said encircling notch extends between said metal piston and said central electrode, and a third portion of said conducting rod extends within said cavity of said central electrode such that a space is formed between the end of said third portion and the back of the cavity within said central electrode; and, an insulator disposed within said central channel and surrounding said conducting central electrode and said second portion of said conducing rod, wherein application of a current to said metal tube and said central electrode causes said conducting rod to break at the location of said notch with resultant generation of a hot, long-lived plasma along a central axis of said central channel.