Self-maintaining high-voltage ac vacuum system

Abstract

This paper describes an experimental investigation of pumping characteristics of high-voltage ac Penning discharges. The investigation has focused on maintaining a vacuum in the 10−5 Torr pressure range while operating at a high ac voltage in the 10–100 kV rms range. It is intended that the pump will be an integral part of high-voltage ac power equipment and will thus ’’self-maintain’’ a vacuum in the equipment.