Patent ID: 8492979

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a first plasma generation device comprising: a first electrode; a base electrode that is spaced apart from said first electrode; a second electrode that opposes and is spaced apart from said base electrode; a high voltage, low current energy source configured to generate a potential difference between said first electrode and said base electrode sufficient to cause an arc therebetween, wherein said arc between said first electrode and said base electrode is configured to reduce an impedance of an area between said second electrode and said base electrode; and a low voltage, high current energy source connected between said second electrode and said base electrode and configured to cause a breakdown of air between said second electrode and said base electrode when said impedance is reduced and transfer said arc between said first electrode and said base electrode to and sustain between said second electrode and said base electrode; a second plasma generation device; and a conduit configured to direct plasma between said first and second plasma generation devices.