A voltage-isolating passageway for providing high voltage isolation
between a component maintained at high DC voltage and a component
maintained at a substantially lower voltage is described. The
voltage-isolating passageway incorporates a transverse magnetic field
across its passageway, which reduces the potential energy of charged
particles (e.g., electrons) passing through the passageway. The
voltage-isolating passageway includes a passageway and at least two
magnets. The passageway has two openings and the two magnets are
positioned along opposite and exterior surfaces of the passageway wherein
the first and second magnets impose a magnetic field in a transverse
direction with respect to a lengthwise axis of the passageway. In one
embodiment, each of the passageways have small diameters and transfer
gases at small flow rates. A support structure secures the passageways
and magnets in position relative to each other and a magnetic shield
encases the components to prevent the magnetic field from affecting
external components.