Tapered Electrode Light Emitting Unit for High-Pressure Plasma
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure discharge gas in laser excitation light sources increases discharge starting voltage, making it difficult to generate plasma efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting unit with a container enclosing discharge gas, featuring a first electrode with a tapered end portion and a second electrode with a perpendicular end surface, along with a voltage application circuit that adjusts the potential difference between the electrodes, applying negative and positive voltage pulses to facilitate plasma generation at reduced starting voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the discharge gas enclosed pressure is increased for high efficiency and high output, then the efficiency and output are improved, but the discharge starting voltage increases according to Paschen's law and plasma generation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The first discharge portion is designed with a tapered structure where the thickness decreases toward the end portion, creating a localized region of high electric field strength. This local quality change enables easier plasma generation at the tapered end without requiring high overall discharge gas pressure, thus resolving the contradiction between high output and low discharge starting voltage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the first electrode from a uniform cylindrical shape to a tapered shape with varying thickness. This parameter change concentrates the electric field at the thinner end portion, reducing the discharge starting voltage while maintaining the ability to generate high output plasma when activated.
2Loss of energy
If the discharge gas enclosed pressure is increased for high efficiency, then the efficiency is improved, but plasma generation becomes difficult due to increased discharge starting voltage
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a localized tapered region at the end of the first discharge portion, the invention concentrates the electric field in a specific area. This allows plasma to be generated more easily at the tapered end even when the overall discharge gas pressure is high, thus maintaining both high efficiency and ease of plasma generation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design reduces the discharge starting voltage, enhances electric field strength, and allows for easier plasma generation, achieving high efficiency and output while maintaining high enclosed gas pressure.
Implementation Method 1
the end portion of the first discharge portion has a shape in which a thickness is thinned as it goes toward the second discharge portion... the electric field strength (electric field density) in the vicinity of the end portion of the first discharge portion can be increased
Implementation Method 2
the voltage application circuit is configured to apply a negative voltage pulse to the first electrode as a trigger voltage for generating the plasma between the first electrode and the second electrode
Implementation Method 3
a discharge can be further easily generated
Implementation Method 4
a discharge gas is enclosed at a high pressure for high efficiency and high output
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting unit includes a light emitting sealed body and a voltage application circuit. The light emitting sealed body includes a container to which laser light for maintaining plasma is incident and from which light from the plasma is emitted, a first electrode which includes a first discharge portion, and a second electrode which includes a second discharge portion. An end portion of the first discharge portion has a shape in which a thickness is thinned as it goes toward the second discharge portion and an end surface of the second discharge portion extends along a plane perpendicular to an extending direction of the first discharge portion. The voltage application circuit controls a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode by adjusting a voltage applied to at least the first electrode.