Abstract: A hollow cathode system generates a plasma. The system includes an anode device, a power supply for applying an electric current between a cathode tube and the anode device, and at least one gas reservoir for supplying the gas flowing through the cathode tube are used, in which at least two cathode tubes are used that are electrically connected to one another, and in which each cathode tube has a separate actuator with which the amount of gas flowing through the respective cathode tube is set.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for applying accelerated electrons to a gaseous medium by means of an electron beam generator, which has at least one cathode for emitting electrons and at least one electron exit window, wherein a) the at least one cathode is annular and the at least one electron exit window is in the form of an annular first hollow cylinder, the annular electron exit window in the form of the first hollow cylinder forms an inner wall of an annular housing of the electron beam generator, wherein the electrons emitted by the cathode are accelerated to the ring axis of the annular housing; b) an annular second hollow cylinder is arranged within the electron exit window in the form of the first hollow cylinder and delimits an annular space between the first hollow cylinder and the second hollow cylinder; c) a cooling gas is fed through the annular space between the first hollow cylinder and the second hollow cylinder; and d) the gaseous medium to which accelerated electrons are to be applied

Abstract: A method may be provided for stimulating the growth of a biomass, which is mixed with a liquid inside a bioreactor, by means of ionising radiation. The following method steps are used: a) exposing a first partial volume of the liquid in the bioreactor to ionising radiation, the first partial volume comprising at most 10% of the liquid volume in the bioreactor; b) mixing the first partial liquid volume, which has been exposed to ionising radiation, with the second partial liquid volume, which has not been exposed to ionising radiation, in the bioreactor; c) repeating method steps a) and b) multiple times, each partial volume of the liquid in the bioreactor being exposed to a total radiation dose of at most 50 Gy on statistical average.

Abstract: A method may be provided for inactivating biologically active components in a liquid using low-energy electrons generated by an electron source, the electrons having an acceleration voltage of 25 keV to 300 keV. The method comprises the following steps: a) filling a vessel with a liquid volume; b) applying low-energy electrons to a first partial volume of the liquid filled into the vessel, wherein the first partial volume is a maximum of 10% of the liquid volume in the vessel; c) mixing the first partial volume of the liquid, applied with the low-energy electrons, to the second partial liquid volume in the vessel, which has not been applied with low-energy electrons; d) repeating steps b) and c) several times.

Abstract: Methods and Apparatus are provided for irradiating a liquid with accelerated electrons. The liquid is prepared. The liquid is mixed with particles having at least one luminescent substance, where the particles are formed such that the particles are dispersed in the liquid after mixing. The liquid is irradiated with an electromagnetic radiation, which induces the at least one luminescent substance to luminesce. An actual value of a physical quantity characterizing the luminescence of the luminescent substance is detected. The liquid is irradiated with accelerated electrons until the detected actual value corresponds to a target value.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for generating accelerated electrons, including a housing; an inlet for supplying a working gas; at least one first cathode; and at least one first anode, between which a corona discharge plasma can be generated. Ions from the corona discharge plasma can be accelerated onto the surface of a second cathode. Electrons emitted by the second cathode can be accelerated in the direction of the electron exit window by means of a second electric voltage applied between the second cathode and a second anode. The housing, the second cathode, and the electron exit window are ring-shaped. The ring-shaped space is divided into ring segments. Each ring segment has at least one wire-shaped electrode, which extends through the ring segment. At least one separate power supply device is associated with each ring segment, by means of which the strength of the electrical current is adjustable.

Abstract: A method for preparing a transplant obtained from animal or human tissue is provided. The transplant is first deposited in a first liquid that comprises at least one substance that initiates and/or activates collagen cross-linking. After removing the transplant from the first liquid, the transplant, now moistened with said first liquid, is exposed to ultraviolet radiation and then to accelerated low-energy electrons.

Abstract: A method for reducing the adhesion of dirt to a substrate is provided, where a thin, incompletely closed layer of a material is deposited on at least one surface area of the substrate by means of a vacuum deposition process, and then said surface area is acted upon by accelerated ions.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for generating accelerated electrons, including a housing; an inlet for supplying a working gas; at least one first cathode; and at least one first anode, between which a corona discharge plasma can be generated. Ions from the corona discharge plasma can be accelerated onto the surface of a second cathode. Electrons emitted by the second cathode can be accelerated in the direction of the electron exit window by means of a second electric voltage applied between the second cathode and a second anode. The housing, the second cathode, and the electron exit window are ring-shaped. The ring-shaped space is divided into ring segments. Each ring segment has at least one wire-shaped electrode, which extends through the ring segment. At least one separate power supply device is associated with each ring segment, by means of which the strength of the electrical current is adjustable.

Abstract: Methods and Apparatus are provided for irradiating a liquid with accelerated electrons. The liquid is prepared. The liquid is mixed with particles having at least one luminescent substance, where the particles are formed such that the particles are dispersed in the liquid after mixing. The liquid is irradiated with an electromagnetic radiation, which induces the at least one luminescent substance to luminesce. An actual value of a physical quantity characterizing the luminescence of the luminescent substance is detected. The liquid is irradiated with accelerated electrons until the detected actual value corresponds to a target value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one electron beam generator for generating accelerated electrons with which bulk material particles are impingeable during free fall. The electron beam generator has an annular design in which the electrons are emitted and accelerated by an annular cathode. The electrons exit from an electron outlet window in the direction of the ring axis. The annular electron beam generator is arranged in such a way that the ring axis of the electron beam generator is oriented perpendicular to, or at an angle of up to 45° from the horizontal. The apparatus may further include a device for separating bulk material particles arranged above the annular electron beam generator, the bottom wall of said device having at least one opening out of which the bulk material particles fall and, from there, fall through the ring which is formed by the electron beam generator.

Abstract: A method for reducing the adhesion of dirt to a substrate is provided, where a thin, incompletely closed layer of a material is deposited on at least one surface area of the substrate by means of a vacuum deposition process, and then said surface area is acted upon by accelerated ions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one electron beam generator for generating accelerated electrons with which bulk material particles are impingeable during free fall. The electron beam generator has an annular design in which the electrons are emitted and accelerated by an annular cathode. The electrons exit from an electron outlet window in the direction of the ring axis. The annular electron beam generator is arranged in such a way that the ring axis of the electron beam generator is oriented perpendicular to, or at an angle of up to 45° from the horizontal. The apparatus may further include a device for separating bulk material particles arranged above the annular electron beam generator, the bottom wall of said device having at least one opening out of which the bulk material particles fall and, from there, fall through the ring which is formed by the electron beam generator.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a hollow cathode arc discharge plasma, including two plasma sources, each including a hollow cathode and an electrode which is associated with the hollow cathode and which has an opening that extends through the electrode, wherein the hollow cathodes of the two plasma sources are connected to a pulse generator which generates a bipolar, medium-frequency pulsed voltage between the two hollow cathodes. Here, in each of the two plasma sources, the hollow cathode is connected in an electrically conducting manner, directly or with interconnection of at least one current direction limiting component, to the associated electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a hollow cathode arc discharge plasma, including two plasma sources, each including a hollow cathode and an electrode which is associated with the hollow cathode and which has an opening that extends through the electrode, wherein the hollow cathodes of the two plasma sources are connected to a pulse generator which generates a bipolar, medium-frequency pulsed voltage between the two hollow cathodes. Here, in each of the two plasma sources, the hollow cathode is connected in an electrically conducting manner, directly or with interconnection of at least one current direction limiting component, to the associated electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device by means of which accelerated electrons emitted by an electron source can be reflected onto a surface region of an object (2), comprising at least one dielectric base body (30) on which at least one electrically conductive layer (39) is applied at least in one surface region (A; B), wherein at least one electrically conductive contacting element (31) extends from the electrically conductive layer (39) through the dielectric base body (30).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for altering the characteristics of a three-dimensional article by means of electrons, including at least one electron accelerator for generating accelerated electrons and two electron exit windows, wherein the two electron exit windows are arranged opposite one another, wherein the two electron exit windows and at least one reflector delimit a process chamber in which the surface or surface layer of the article are bombarded with electrons, wherein an energy density distribution inside the process chamber can be detected at least over one spatial dimension by means of a sensor system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for altering the characteristics of a three-dimensional molded part by means of electrons, including at least one electron accelerator for generating accelerated electrons and two electron exit windows, wherein the two electron exit windows are arranged opposite one another, wherein the two electron exit windows and at least one reflector delimit a process chamber in which the surface or an edge layer of the molded part are bombarded with electrons, wherein an energy density distribution inside the process chamber can be detected at least over one spatial dimension by means of a sensor system.