An ARC evaporator comprising: a cathode assembly comprising a cooling plate (11), a target (1) as cathode element, an electrode arranged for enabling that an arc between the electrode and the front surface (1A) of the target (1) can be established—a magnetic guidance system placed in front of the back surface (1 B) of the target (i) comprising means for generating one or more magnetic whereas: —the borders of the cathode assembly comprise a surrounding shield (15) made of ferromagnetic material, wherein the surrounding shield (15) has a total height (H) in the transversal direction, said total height (H) including a component (C) for causing a shielding effect of magnetic field lines extending in any longitudinal directions, establishing in this manner the borders of the cathode assembly as limit of the extension of the magnetic field lines in any longitudinal direction.

A plasma compression driver is connected to a plasma containment vessel containing a liquid medium that forms a liquid liner containing plasma, and comprises a pair of coaxially aligned pistons that are sequentially driven towards the liquid liner. A pusher bore containing a pusher piston is coaxial with and has a smaller diameter than a driver bore containing a driver piston such that an interconnecting annular face surface is defined at the junction of the driver and pusher bores. During the compression operation, a prime mover accelerates the driver piston towards the pusher piston and compresses a compression fluid, which accelerates the pusher piston and pushes the liquid medium in the pusher bore into the vessel, causing the liquid liner to collapse, and compressing the plasma. Outward forces on the vessel wall caused by compression driver recoil and increased vessel pressure is counteracted by an inward force applied by the compression fluid on the annular face surface during the compression operation.

A plasma compression driver is connected to a plasma containment vessel containing a liquid medium that forms a liquid liner containing plasma, and comprises a pair of coaxially aligned pistons that are sequentially driven towards the liquid liner. A pusher bore containing a pusher piston is coaxial with and has a smaller diameter than a driver bore containing a driver piston such that an interconnecting annular face surface is defined at the junction of the driver and pusher bores. During the compression operation, a prime mover accelerates the driver piston towards the pusher piston and compresses a compression fluid, which accelerates the pusher piston and pushes the liquid medium in the pusher bore into the vessel, causing the liquid liner to collapse, and compressing the plasma. Outward forces on the vessel wall caused by compression driver recoil and increased vessel pressure is counteracted by an inward force applied by the compression fluid on the annular face surface during the compression operation.

A system (10) and method for transferring energy utilises an evacuated recirculation duct (11), with a pump (20) to circulate gas and a control nozzle (22) to form a jet of gas. Hydrogen gas is provided into the duct to be circulated, and an electrical device (30, 32) provides energy into the jet of gas so as to form hydrogen atoms. A heat exchanger (44) is arranged downstream of the electrical device (30, 32), onto which the flowing jet of gas impacts. Means (40) are also provided to generate an electric or magnetic field in the region of the jet of gas between the electrical device (30, 32) and the heat exchanger (44), and is connected to a source (42) of electricity. For example an electromagnet coil (40) and may generate a magnetic field (B) transverse to the direction of travel of the jet of gas, or an electromagnet coil (40A, 40B) may generate a magnetic field parallel to the jet of gas.

A system (10) and method for transferring energy utilises an evacuated recirculation duct (11), with a pump (20) to circulate gas and a control nozzle (22) to form a jet of gas. Hydrogen gas is provided into the duct to be circulated, and an electrical device (30, 32) provides energy into the jet of gas so as to form hydrogen atoms. A heat exchanger (44) is arranged downstream of the electrical device (30, 32), onto which the flowing jet of gas impacts. Means (40) are also provided to generate an electric or magnetic field in the region of the jet of gas between the electrical device (30, 32) and the heat exchanger (44), and is connected to a source (42) of electricity. For example an electromagnet coil (40) and may generate a magnetic field (B) transverse to the direction of travel of the jet of gas, or an electromagnet coil (40A, 40B) may generate a magnetic field parallel to the jet of gas.

A filter (104a, 104b, 108) for a cathode arc source comprises: a filter duct having at least one bend (104a, 104b), and a first magnetic field source for steering plasma through the filter duct for removal of macroparticles from the plasma; wherein the apparatus comprises a second magnetic field source (108) which is rotatably mounted surrounding a portion of the filter duct. Cathode arc sources (102) and cathode arc deposition apparatuses (106) comprise the filters described herein, and methods of filtering macroparticles from a beam of plasma emitted from a cathode arc source use the filters.

A filter (104a, 104b, 108) for a cathode arc source comprises: a filter duct having at least one bend (104a, 104b), and a first magnetic field source for steering plasma through the filter duct for removal of macroparticles from the plasma; wherein the apparatus comprises a second magnetic field source (108) which is rotatably mounted surrounding a portion of the filter duct. Cathode arc sources (102) and cathode arc deposition apparatuses (106) comprise the filters described herein, and methods of filtering macroparticles from a beam of plasma emitted from a cathode arc source use the filters.

A system (10) and method for transferring energy utilises an evacuated recirculation duct (11), with a pump (20) to circulate gas and a control nozzle (22) to form a jet of gas. Hydrogen gas is provided into the duct to be circulated, and an electrical device (30, 32) provides energy into the jet of gas so as to form hydrogen atoms. A heat exchanger (44) is arranged downstream of the electrical device (30, 32), onto which the flowing jet of gas impacts. Means (40) are also provided to generate an electric or magnetic field in the region of the jet of gas between the electrical device (30, 32) and the heat exchanger (44), and is connected to a source (42) of electricity. For example, an electromagnet coil (40) and may generate a magnetic field (B) transverse to the direction of travel of the jet of gas, or an electromagnet coil (40A, 40B) may generate a magnetic field parallel to the jet of gas.

A system (10) and method for transferring energy utilises an evacuated recirculation duct (11), with a pump (20) to circulate gas and a control nozzle (22) to form a jet of gas. Hydrogen gas is provided into the duct to be circulated, and an electrical device (30, 32) provides energy into the jet of gas so as to form hydrogen atoms. A heat exchanger (44) is arranged downstream of the electrical device (30, 32), onto which the flowing jet of gas impacts. Means (40) are also provided to generate an electric or magnetic field in the region of the jet of gas between the electrical device (30, 32) and the heat exchanger (44), and is connected to a source (42) of electricity. For example, an electromagnet coil (40) and may generate a magnetic field (B) transverse to the direction of travel of the jet of gas, or an electromagnet coil (40A, 40B) may generate a magnetic field parallel to the jet of gas.

A reactor for forming a plasma in a flowing fluid that includes a central rod belonging to a first electrode, an insulator, a tubular body belonging to a second electrode and defining a cylindrical space for the flow of the fluid between the tubular body and the insulator. The reactor further includes control disk having a front face linked to a downstream end of the central rod, and a permanent magnet juxtaposed against a back face of the control disk. One or more ribs are on a front face of the control disk according to a pattern in relief defining successive starting points for an electric arc distributed around the central axis of the reactor so as to generate electric arcs situated on a reaction cone and appearing to turn around the central axis.