Permanent Magnet Chassis for UV Light and Plasma Sources

Compact sources of magnetic field with domains of solenoidlike topology have been proposed to replace electromagnets in plasma devices. A light, nonmagnetic chassis holding an array of neodymium magnets in a honeycomb pattern has been designed, machined, and tested. DC magnetic fields up to 0.5 T have been achieved in extended spatial domains useful for practical applications. Stable operation of RF-driven discharges in air, argon, and nitrogen has been obtained using these regions. Noninvasive fiber-optics and direct in-vacuum spectroscopic measurements have been used for performance analysis. Efficient production of UV light, decomposition of molecules, and ionization of atomic and molecular species have been demonstrated in different configurations. Extreme ultraviolet production and other potential uses, as well as durability, improvements, and limitations are discussed.