Method and device for operating a hollow cathode arc discharge

摘要

The method involves guiding a working gas into a vacuum chamber, and generating a magnetic field (17) around a hollow cathode (12) at an output side, where the magnetic field comprises a flux line region that runs parallel to a pipe axis. An electrical voltage is produced between the cathode and an anode (15) by a power supply device (18). A burning voltage for an arc discharge and a voltage pulse of 500 volts is generated by the power supply device for igniting or maintaining the arc discharge. An independent claim is also included for a device for operating an arc discharge.