Glow discharge plasma switch controlled by a small magnetic field
Date
1992
Authors
Rocca, Jorge J., author
Floyd, K., author
American Institute of Physics, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
A cold plasma switch scheme with opening and closing capabilities is reported. An externally applied magnetic field causes a low pressure hollow cathode discharge to transition from a low impedance mode sustained by oscillating beam electrons into a virtually collisionless high impedance mode. The impedance of a 10 A discharge was demonstrated to increase by 20 with the application of a field of 0.018 T.