Inertial-electrostatic confinement particle generator

摘要

An apparatus for generating neutrons and protons which includes a vacuum vessel having anode means substantially within vacuum vessel. The apparatus further includes at least one cathode wire grid which defines a central volume and is concave towards a central region of the vacuum vessel. The cathode wire grid is permeable to gas and to ions and disposed between the anode means. The apparatus further includes a means for introducing controlled amounts of reactive gas into the vacuum vessel and the central volume to obtain an internal pressure of the vacuum vessel. Finally, the apparatus includes means for applying an electric potential between the anode means and the cathode wire grid to produce a glow discharge caused by ions produced between the anode means and the cathode wire grid. The glow discharge is substantially determined by design criteria of the cathode wire grid and the internal pressure of the vacuum vessel.