A generating electric arc is disclosed herein, which thermally and mechanically acts on a material in such a manner that the electrical arc is shaped and guided by the action of a magnetic field and hydro-mechanical forces on the electrical arc. Generally, a substantial part of the electric arc acts directly and areally on a conductive and/or non-conductive material to be disrupted, a substantial part of the electric arc's heat flow is directed into the material to be disrupted, both electric arc roots move on the electrodes of a generator, and the electric arc has preferably a shape of a spiral. A device is also provided herein for generating an electric arc with thermal and mechanic action on a material containing axially symmetrical electrodes, i.e. an anode (4) and a cathode (6), a spark gap (7), nozzles (5) for the working medium flow, cooling media inlet and outlet (12), electric power supply (14), and ring-shaped magnets (9) whose section has the shape of a triangle. Typically, the anode (4) has the shape of the diffuser with an angular span from 5 to 130.

A generating electric arc is disclosed herein, which thermally and mechanically acts on a material in such a manner that the electrical arc is shaped and guided by the action of a magnetic field and hydro-mechanical forces on the electrical arc. Generally, a substantial part of the electric arc acts directly and areally on a conductive and/or non-conductive material to be disrupted, a substantial part of the electric arc's heat flow is directed into the material to be disrupted, both electric arc roots move on the electrodes of a generator, and the electric arc has preferably a shape of a spiral. A device is also provided herein for generating an electric arc with thermal and mechanic action on a material containing axially symmetrical electrodes, i.e. an anode (4) and a cathode (6), a spark gap (7), nozzles (5) for the working medium flow, cooling media inlet and outlet (12), electric power supply (14), and ring-shaped magnets (9) whose section has the shape of a triangle. Typically, the anode (4) has the shape of the diffuser with an angular span from 5 to 130.

Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for adding thermal energy to a glass melt. Apparatuses for generating a thermal plasma disclosed herein comprise an electrode, a grounded electrode, a dielectric plasma confinement vessel extending between the two electrodes, and a magnetic field generator extending around the dielectric plasma confinement vessel. Also disclosed herein are methods for fining molten glass comprising generating a thermal plasma using the apparatuses disclosed herein and contacting the molten glass with the thermal plasma. Glass structures produced according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for adding thermal energy to a glass melt. Apparatuses for generating a thermal plasma disclosed herein comprise an electrode, a grounded electrode, a dielectric plasma confinement vessel extending between the two electrodes, and a magnetic field generator extending around the dielectric plasma confinement vessel. Also disclosed herein are methods for fining molten glass comprising generating a thermal plasma using the apparatuses disclosed herein and contacting the molten glass with the thermal plasma. Glass structures produced according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

A thruster for a micro-satellite is disclosed. The thruster includes a cathode composed of a propellant material and an anode composed of ablative material. The thruster includes a housing having a proximate end and an opposite distal end having a thrust channel. The housing holds the anode and the cathode. A pulsed voltage source is coupled between the cathode and the anode causing current sufficient to create ablation of the anode and a plasma jet including ablated particles from the anode to be emitted from the thrust channel.

A thruster for a micro-satellite is disclosed. The thruster includes a cathode composed of a propellant material and an anode composed of ablative material. The thruster includes a housing having a proximate end and an opposite distal end having a thrust channel. The housing holds the anode and the cathode. A pulsed voltage source is coupled between the cathode and the anode causing current sufficient to create ablation of the anode and a plasma jet including ablated particles from the anode to be emitted from the thrust channel.

A nitric oxide generator generates nitric oxide from a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen such as air treated by a pulsating electrical discharge. The desired concentration of nitric oxide is obtained by controlling at least one of a frequency of the pulsating electrical discharge and duration of each electrical discharge pulse.

A generating electric arc is disclosed herein, which thermally and mechanically acts on a material in such a manner that the electrical arc is shaped and guided by the action of a magnetic field and hydro-mechanical forces on the electrical arc. Generally, a substantial part of the electric arc acts directly and areally on a conductive and/or non-conductive material to be disrupted, a substantial part of the electric arc's heat flow is directed into the material to be disrupted, both electric arc roots move on the electrodes of a generator, and the electric arc has preferably a shape of a spiral. A device is also provided herein for generating an electric arc with thermal and mechanic action on a material containing axially symmetrical electrodes, i.e. an anode (4) and a cathode (6), a spark gap (7), nozzles (5) for the working medium flow, cooling media inlet and outlet (12), electric power supply (14), and ring-shaped magnets (9) whose section has the shape of a triangle. Typically, the anode (4) has the shape of the diffuser with an angular span from 5 to 130.

A generating electric arc is disclosed herein, which thermally and mechanically acts on a material in such a manner that the electrical arc is shaped and guided by the action of a magnetic field and hydro-mechanical forces on the electrical arc. Generally, a substantial part of the electric arc acts directly and areally on a conductive and/or non-conductive material to be disrupted, a substantial part of the electric arc's heat flow is directed into the material to be disrupted, both electric arc roots move on the electrodes of a generator, and the electric arc has preferably a shape of a spiral. A device is also provided herein for generating an electric arc with thermal and mechanic action on a material containing axially symmetrical electrodes, i.e. an anode (4) and a cathode (6), a spark gap (7), nozzles (5) for the working medium flow, cooling media inlet and outlet (12), electric power supply (14), and ring-shaped magnets (9) whose section has the shape of a triangle. Typically, the anode (4) has the shape of the diffuser with an angular span from 5 to 130.

In an embodiment of the invention there is a cyclotronic actuator. The actuator is defined by having a high-voltage plasma driver connected to a first electrode. The first electrode is surrounded by a dielectric material. A second electrode is grounded and placed away from the first electrode, such that a plasma arc is formed between the pair of electrodes when the high-voltage plasma driver is activated. A ring magnet surrounding the second electrode is configured to introduce a magnetic field locally to the plasma arc. The plasma arc will then discharge in a radial direction. The magnet creates a local magnetic field oriented vertically in a direction parallel to the axisymmetric orientation of the first and second electrodes to create a Lorentz Force. The force causes the plasma arc to move in a tangential direction and causes the plasma arc to discharge out in a circular pattern.