(57) A method for heating and broadening the plasma jet exhausting from a plasma gun includes
directing the jet along the central axis of a downstream induction coil and passing
a high frequency alternating current through the coil, so that the outer layers of
the plasma jet are heated more than the center thereof, and the average temperature
of the jet is increased. A preferred method for producing the plasma jet includes
establishing a plasma discharge in a gas flowing along the central axis of a separate,
upstream induction coil, by passing a high frequency alternating current through the
coil, and directing the gas flow and at least a portion of the plasma discharge through
a throated passage to form a plasma jet. In accordance with a preferred embodiment,
an apparatus for carrying out the invention includes a housing having a flow channel
with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a throat region between the inlet and
outlet openings, first and second induction coils disposed around the inlet and outlet
ends, respectively, of the channel, means for introducing a high velocity flow of
gas into the channel, and means for passing high frequency alternating currents through
each of the induction coils.
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