| 摘要 |
The novel radiation source system of this invention includes a pair of electrodes which are coaxially mounted at each end of a single cylindrical transparent arc chamber. A liquid, such as water, is circulated through the arc chamber with a tangential velocity so as to form a vortexing liquid wall. The main functions of the liquid wall are to cool the periphery of the arc discharge between the electrodes thus constricting the arc diameter, and to absorb ultraviolet and infrared radiation which would otherwise be absorbed by the outer solid wall. This liquid wall produces a positive dynamic impedance for the arc discharge. In addition, a vortexing column of inert gas, injected through the length of the chamber, stabilizes the arc discharge between the electrodes. In one embodiment, the structure of the anode electrode includes an annular constriction which is mounted near the anode surface to constrict the diameter of the arc column near the anode and to form a gas expansion chamber adjacent to the anode surface wherein the inert gas on expansion loses its vortex motion. The arc is therefore no longer vortex stabilized and current density at the anode surface is reduced. In a further embodiment, the anode structure includes an expanding chamber at the anode into which both the liquid and the gas lose their vortex motion. A 3-stage starting and power supply circuit is connected across the electrodes. It includes a pulsing circuit to initiate the arc discharge across the fixed electrodes and a programmed capacitor bank to sustain the arc until such time that the main power supply, with its inherent high inductance, provides sufficient current to the radiation source to maintain the arc.
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