ION GENERATION BY THE TEMPORAL CONTROL OF GASEOUS DIELECTRIC BREAKDOWN

摘要

An apparatus and method for ion generation are adapted such that an ionization process is controlled temporally, to first initiat, then to halt the breakdown of the gas before a destructive plasma or glow is formed. This method controls the release of energy to the gas in such a manner as to create ions but prevent the heating of the gas. The primary advantages of this ion generation mechanism are its simplicity, efficiency and its ability to create ions at ambient temperature and pressure.