NEW TYPE OF HIGH SPEED VALVE

A new type of high speed operating valve for theta pinch devices in plasma physics research is described. The valve is thin enough to be set between the theta pinch coil and the discharge tube. The operation of the valve depends on the force exerted between two parallel electric currents. The gas is injected from the wall of the discharge tube so that an amount of gas is initially confined in the discharge region. Azimuthal distribution of the gas admitted is found to be uniform by measurement with a fast ion gauge. The opening time of the valve is less than about 350 μsec. The amount of gas admitted for a given setting is reproducible to less than ±5%. © 1968 The American Institute of Physics.