Abstract: A glow discharge starter having an hermetically sealed envelope of vitreous material, a seal located at one end thereof and containing an ionizable medium. A pair of electrical conductors extend through the seal and terminate in a spaced relationship to form a pair of electrodes within the envelope. At least one of the electrodes has a bimetallic element secured thereto. A coating comprising lanthanum, nickel and boron is disposed on a surface within the envelope. Preferably, the coating comprises from about 2 percent to about 4 percent boron. The coating is effective in improving the aging efficiency and the temperature stability of the glow discharge starter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a glow-discharge lamp comprising: a chamber body, provided with one or more gas supply and evacuation openings made of insulated material; a gas inner chamber, which expands toward an anode, is bordered on the sides by the inner walls of the chamber body and has a diameter which is largest at approximately the level of the anode and which has its smallest diameter corresponding to the examination sector of the sample to be examined; a sample arranged at the cathode end of the chamber body and with the anode incorporated in the chamber body, whereby the sample preferably is held at zero potential and the anode incorporated in the chamber body and having a passage opening is preferably held at high voltage; an end piece, if necessary, in the form of a window is arranged at the end of the chamber body, wherein at least one window opening (18) is provided in the chamber body (4) at the level of the negative glow light, and the sample (2) seals the inner gas chamber at the cathode

Abstract: A cold cathode for generating an abnormal glow discharge electron beam within a vacuum chamber is mounted to a wall of the vacuum chamber such that only the emitting front face of the cold cathode, itself electrically insulated from the vacuum chamber wall by a narrow gap therebetween, is located inside the vacuum chamber, while the remainder of the cold cathode is located outside the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A gas discharge lamp for emitting vacuum UV radiation, comprising a lamp body filled at low pressure with a gas capable of emitting radiation in the vacuum UV range (e.g., argon), electrodes within the lamp body for passing an electric field across the gas, a crystalline window (e.g., lithium fluoride) in the body for transmitting the vacuum UV radiation emitted by the gas, wherein the crystalline window is constructed of a material that, when exposed to the vacuum UV radiation emitted by the gas, forms color centers that block transmission of the radiation through the window, and a bleaching element located within the lamp body for emitting color-center bleaching radiation in response to the electric field degrading emission of the vacuum UV radiation, the bleaching radiation being in a frequency band (e.g., 5-6 eV) lower than the vacuum UV radiation.

Abstract: A gas-discharge memory-type display panel having distinctively high radiation efficiency is realized by plural negative glow type discharge cells operating with a discharge electrode distance normalized filled gas pressure product (d.multidot.p.sub.o) being in the range of 0.5 to 8.0 Torr.multidot.cm, at an average discharge current of less than 50 .mu.A. Improved radiation efficiency can be further raised by direct viewing of radiation from fluorescent layers arranged flat on a rear plate of a simplified two-plate structure of a sealed envelope which can be readily manufactured.

Abstract: A glow discharge starter having an hermetically sealed envelope of vitreous material, a seal located at one end thereof and containing an ionizable medium. A pair of electrical conductors extend through the seal and terminate in a spaced relationship to form a pair of electrodes within the envelope. At least one of the electrodes has a bimetallic element secured thereto. A coating comprising lanthanum, nickel and at least one radioactive dopant is disposed on a surface within the envelope. The coating is sufficient to reduce the dark effect by improving the dark starting of the glow discharge starter.

Abstract: A pin-shaped discharge electrode is provided which prevents corrosion and promotes stable glow discharge. In order to reduce the occurrence of a large field near the bottom of the electrode, the electrode is embedded in a cavity of an insulating base plate.

Abstract: A glow discharge tube for exciting a sample in emission spectrochemical analysis or mass spectrometry, in which glow discharge is effected between the anode tube and the sample while gas is being passed, for exhaust, through the narrow gap formed between the sample surface and the end of the insulating tube fit on the anode tube so as to maintain a constant pressure in the anode tube. Since the insulating tube projects further than the anode tube toward the sample side, a shortcircuit is never formed between the anode and the cathode even if sample vapor adheres to the walls surrounding the exhaust passage. As a result, efficient analysis can be achieved with the glow discharge tube of the present invention.

Abstract: A semiconductor body with an improved passivating layer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the body is a device comprising a semiconductor material having regions of opposite conductivity types which form a semiconductor junction therebetween which extends to a surface of the device. The passivating layer, comprising silicon oxynitride having a refractive index between about 1.55 and 1.75 and a substantial hydrogen content, overlies the surface at the junction.Also disclosed is a method for fabricating such a device wherein the vapor deposition of the passivating layer is carried out at low temperatures from an ambient having a ratio of silicon-containing to oxygen- and nitrogen-containing precursors of between about 1:1.67 and 1:5.

Abstract: An electrode structure used in a glow discharge system for nitride hardening of metals. The structure includes an anode plate, a cathode plate, a conductor connected to the cathode plate and an insulating dielectric shroud which surrounds the conductor. The two plates are firmly attached to the dielectric shroud so as to prevent any air gaps across which an arc may form. The shroud includes a plurality of annular grooves at one end to prevent the surface of the shroud from being covered by extraneous matter which would allow an arc to form between the plates.

Abstract: A discharge electrode for a gas discharge device has pin-shaped electrodes which are effectively cooled in the gas flow and which promote a stable glow-discharge. The pin-shaped electrodes are made from a wire member which is curled at its end. An extension portion of the electrodes extends a predetermined length from the curled end, and is bent in an approximately L-shape to form a post position. The pin-shaped electrode is disposed in the gas flow so that the extension portion is orthogonal to the gas flow.

Abstract: An electronic energization circuit is provided to illuminate a gas discharge lamp that includes a transformer with a substantially rectangular hysteresis loop. A secondary winding on the transformer is connected to energize the lamp and at least one primary winding is provided on the transformer. Input voltage terminals may be DC terminals to supply an input voltage to the circuit. At least one semiconductor, such as a transistor, is connected to the input terminals and to the at least one primary winding, and a control means is provided for the semiconductor for unequal on and off conduction periods of the semiconductor. These unequal periods provide the conditions which eliminate the striations (bubbles) or dark spots in the gas plasma of the lamp, usually associated with high frequency energization.

Abstract: For the glow discharge between a receptacle and a workpiece, the glow discharge path is connected in series with a first switch. A capacitor circuit is charged via the glow discharge path and two diodes. By closing a switch, the previously positive pole of the capacitor circuit is set to the zero potential, whereby the potential of the other pole is shifted negative. By closing a switch, the capacitor circuit is discharged through the glow discharge path while the first switch is closed. Upon the discharging of the capacitor circuit, the supply voltage continues to be present at the glow discharge path for the remaining pulse time. In the initial range, the voltage pulses have a pulse peak for ignition followed by a maintenance range, the height of which corresponds to the supply voltage.

Abstract: In a glow switch starter comprising an airtight envelope in which a dischargeable gas is contained, and an electrode assembly hermetically sealed in one end of the envelope and having a stem in which a pair of electrodes are set, one or both of which are movable electrodes, a film formed of a mixture of 40% to 90% (by weight) metal barium and 60% to 10% (by weight) metal oxide is deposited on that region of the inner surface of the envelope, which is spaced apart from the stem, at a rate of 0.4 mg to 12.5 mg per cubic centimeter of the envelope capacity.

Abstract: A glow discharge tube for emission spectral analysis is disclosed. The tube includes an anode cavity which is connected on one side to a carrier gas source and is connected on the other side to a first vacuum pump. The anode cavity is in communication, by way of a restrictor, with a cathode cavity which is connected to a second vacuum pump. The second pump produces a vacuum that is greater than that produced by the first pump. To reduce the margin of error in the accuracy of spectral-analytical tests, the gas pressure in the main cavity is maintained at a constant value by an electronic control which regulates the amount of carrier gas being fed to the anode cavity.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for preparing a coating by subjecting gaseous reactant precursors to a glow discharge is disclosed. The improvement comprises an electrode which is larger in all dimensions than the substrate which is to be coated. Electrically insulated magnets are arranged such that the area of the magnets is proportionally distributed with respect to the area of the substrate to be coated, whereby enhanced uniformity of quality and thickness of the deposited coating are provided. Unexpectedly the coating deposition rate increases substantially without increasing the power required or precursor consumption, and further, the temperature does not markedly increase during deposition.

Abstract: A positive space-charge closing switch apparatus for closing electrically the gap between a pair of main electrodes with a positive ion beam that is generated by an ion plasma gun.

Abstract: A high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp comprising a discharge tube disposed in an outer jacket; said discharge tube having electrodes and containing a filling comprising a starting rare gas composed primarily of xenon at a pressure from 40 to 200 Torr; means for starting said discharge tube comprising a glow starter comprising a pair of contacts spaced apart not more than 2.5 mm from each other, and containing a gas composed primarily of argon at a pressure of at least 7 Torr; the pressure in said glow starter (P.sub.g) being related to the pressure in the discharge tube (P.sub.i), according to the expression ##EQU1## and a starting electric conductor adapted to contact the discharge tube on starting thereof and to separate from the discharge tube after starting.

Abstract: An electric-wind or static-breeze generating system in which ions are produced in a duct and drift toward a counterelectrode thereby displacing a gas, e.g. air, through the duct at atmospheric pressure. Nozzles can introduce an aerosol to increase the air displacement and an alternating current system can be utilized to energize the device in a bipolar manner.