THEORY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFICIENT SURFACE-WAVE LAUNCHER (SURFATRON) PRODUCING LONG PLASMA COLUMNS

Long plasma columns, in many instances preferable to the positive columns of DC discharges, can be obtained by means of a UHF surface wave propagating along the column. This is possible through the use of a novel wave-launching structure, called a surfatron. The launcher is compact and located on the outside of the dielectric tube containing the plasma. The surfatron is described and analysed in terms of an equivalent circuit theory. Guidelines for its design and operation are given.