A Fast Acting All-Metal Gas Valve for Plasma Research

Abstract

A fast acting, all-metal valve has been developed for injecting pulses of neutral gases into a high vacuum. The theoretical motion of the piston is analyzed and compared with its actual dynamic and electrical operating characteristics. The design of the valve makes it possible to change the length of time the valve is open and thus vary the number of atoms admitted. Preliminary measurements of the pressure in the gas pulses have been made with fast stabilized ionization gauges. Reproducibility of measurement of the operating times of valve and gas pressure pulses was better than 95%. The gases used were hydrogen, helium, argon, and nitrogen.