Abstract:
An enclosed vessel containing one or more anodes, a main cathode, one or more auxiliary cathodes, and means for maintaining a low pressure in the tube comprises a liquid-metal arc switching device. The main cathode is fed with a metal which is liquid at convenient temperatures, so that limited quantities of the metal are present and available on the cathode for arcing. The interior of the vessel is maintained at a low background pressure so that, during nonconduction, vacuum space insulation is provided between the anodes and the cathodes. Arc initiation is accomplished by any convenient initiator, and the arc runs upon the small amount of liquid metal fed at an appropriate rate to the main cathode. For arc extinction, at least one auxiliary cathode is positioned within the envelope.
Abstract:
Orientation independent ignitron 10 has a cooled cathode 28 which carries thin mercury film 58 which is held in place by surface tension forces so that it is independent of orientation. Ignitor 48 starts conduction which continues until mercury exhaustion or shut off by an external circuit. During nonconductive portions of the duty cycle, the mercury recondenses on the cooled cathode 30.
Abstract:
The liquid metal cathode is employed as a cathodic electron source in arc discharges. A small liquid metal pool serves as the arcing material, and when it is kept small, improved electron-toatom emission ratios are obtained, as well as gravity independence. However, when such a small pool is employed, feed to the pool must be free of feed rate perturbations. Otherwise, an instability in the level of the mercury in the pool results. The present invention obtains feed rate stability by providing a feed passage with a diameter which is everywhere larger than that of the feed channel which finally discharges to the pool. Feed flow impedance is provided by an elongated capillary feed channel.
Abstract:
Germanium is freed from oxygen by adding magnesium, beryllium or titanium and zone refining. Zone refining may be repeated one or more times. 0,1-5 atomic per cent of magnesium based on the molten zone may be employed. As shown a pellet 3 consisting of a 2 to 3 mixture of magnesium and germanium is placed on one end of a bar 2 of germanium in a graphite crucible 1. The crucible is then placed in a quartz tube 4, which is then traversed by an induction heating coil 5 during the passage through the tube of a stream of pure dry hydrogen. After the passage of two molten zones, the end of high magnesium content is cut off and the remainder is treated with an aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride and nitric acid. A desired amount of a significant impurity may be incorporated in the germanium or a single crystal may be formed during the passage of the second molten zone.