The disclosure includes an outer electrode and an inner electrode. The outer electrode defines an inner volume and is configured to receive injected electrons through at least one aperture. The inner electrode positioned in the inner volume. The outer electrode and inner electrode are configured to confine the received electrons in orbits around the inner electrode in response to an electric potential between the outer electrode and the inner electrode. The apparatus does not include a component configured to generate an electron-confining magnetic field.

The disclosure includes an outer electrode and an inner electrode. The outer electrode defines an inner volume and is configured to receive injected electrons through at least one aperture. The inner electrode positioned in the inner volume. The outer electrode and inner electrode are configured to confine the received electrons in orbits around the inner electrode in response to an electric potential between the outer electrode and the inner electrode. The apparatus does not include a component configured to generate an electron-confining magnetic field.

An ion pump includes an evacuateable envelope having a chamber. A first and a second cathode are disposed within the chamber and spaced apart from one another. An anode is spaced apart from and between the first and second cathodes. The anode has an anode body with a textured surface that defines capture regions for fixing material sputtered from the first and second cathodes and controlling size of sputter depositions shed from the anode.

An ion pump includes an evacuateable envelope having a chamber. A first and a second cathode are disposed within the chamber and spaced apart from one another. An anode is spaced apart from and between the first and second cathodes. The anode has an anode body with a textured surface that defines capture regions for fixing material sputtered from the first and second cathodes and controlling size of sputter depositions shed from the anode.

An ion pump includes an evacuateable envelope having a chamber. A first and a second cathode are disposed within the chamber and spaced apart from one another. An anode is spaced apart from and between the first and second cathodes. The anode has an anode body with a textured surface that defines capture regions for fixing material sputtered from the first and second cathodes and controlling size of sputter depositions shed from the anode.

An ion pump includes an evacuateable envelope having a chamber. A first and a second cathode are disposed within the chamber and spaced apart from one another. An anode is spaced apart from and between the first and second cathodes. The anode has an anode body with a textured surface that defines capture regions for fixing material sputtered from the first and second cathodes and controlling size of sputter depositions shed from the anode.

According to an embodiment, an ion pump for use in a low gravity environment includes a housing at least partially defining a pumping chamber, the pumping chamber enclosing a first cathode plate and a second cathode plate, and a plurality of cylindrical anodes disposed between the first cathode plate and the second cathode plate. The ion pump also includes a feedthrough extending external to the pumping chamber from a wall of the housing, and a baffle including a body disposed in a space between the plurality of anodes and an inner surface of the wall. The body has dimensions selected to prevent particles having a size greater than a selected particle size from migrating from the pumping chamber to the feedthrough when in the low gravity environment.

According to an embodiment, an ion pump for use in a low gravity environment includes a housing at least partially defining a pumping chamber, the pumping chamber enclosing a first cathode plate and a second cathode plate, and a plurality of cylindrical anodes disposed between the first cathode plate and the second cathode plate. The ion pump also includes a feedthrough extending external to the pumping chamber from a wall of the housing, and a baffle including a body disposed in a space between the plurality of anodes and an inner surface of the wall. The body has dimensions selected to prevent particles having a size greater than a selected particle size from migrating from the pumping chamber to the feedthrough when in the low gravity environment.

Method for the regeneration of a volume getter pump in a vacuum apparatus with a volume getter pump and an ion getter pump where the operating voltage of the ion getter pump is reduced, the current through the ion getter pump is recorded for determination of the pressure in the vacuum apparatus and then a heating element of the NEG is controlled as a function of the current of the ion getter pump for the purpose of heating the NEG material.

Heat transfer devices are based on using one or more ionic pumps to circulate a dielectric working fluid around a closed circulation path, which may be contained in a conduit. The working fluid may be a liquid or a gas. The ionic pumps are disposed along the closed circulation path. The pumps include an emitter and collector. When a voltage is applied to the emitter, the working fluid is ionized at the emitter. The ionized fluid is drawn electrostatically to the lower-voltage collector, which, through collision with molecules that in turn impart their momentum, creates a flow of the working fluid. This approach may be used with either positive or negative corona devices.