| 摘要 |
<p>A plasma switch employs a cold cathode which yields secondary electrons to sustain a plasma within the switch. The cathode is provided with a series of perturbations which increase the effective cathode surface area exposed to the plasma and increase the average effective path lengths of secondary electrons emitted from the cathode and the probability of such electrons having ionizing collisions with gas molecules within the switch. The interior cathode surface is provided with a coating formed from chromium or a chromium mixture. Chromium combines a high rate of secondary electron emission with low sputtering and other advantageous properties for plasma switch operation. Various types of chromium-plated perturbations are described.</p> |
