Plasma generating device with hairpin-shaped cathode filaments

A device is described for generating a homogeneous ion--electron plasma from which a large ion beam can be extracted. The device utilizes hairpin-shaped filaments lining at least portions of the wall of the chamber which have been rotated 90 degrees from prior known approaches. This provides a very significant result in that the DC current flowing through the filaments produces a small solenoidal magnetic field that impedes the emitted electrons from striking the walls of the chamber, which may be of a cylindrical or rectangular configuration. This improves the efficiency of the ion source and provides additional space for more filaments, while providing a very uniform plasma density profile which is noise-free