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Systems and methods for ignition and reignition of unstable electrical discharges wherein a secondary electrode positioned is between a set of primary electrodes and a high voltage is applied between the secondary electrode and successive ones of the primary electrodes to produce pilot discharges th

Systems and methods for ignition and reignition of unstable electrical discharges wherein a secondary electrode positioned is between a set of primary electrodes and a high voltage is applied between the secondary electrode and successive ones of the primary electrodes to produce pilot discharges that ionize a gas there between and thereby reduce the voltage necessary to ignite a primary discharge between the primary electrodes. Power is provided to the secondary electrode by a circuit which is independent of the circuit that supplies power to the primary electrodes and generates voltage pulses which are substantially higher than the voltage between the primary electrodes.

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1. A device comprising:a plurality of primary electrodes comprising one or more pairs of primary electrodes which are symmetric about a central axis; a secondary electrode positioned centrally between the plurality of primary electrodes; a first circuit for supplying power to the plurality of primar

1. A device comprising:a plurality of primary electrodes comprising one or more pairs of primary electrodes which are symmetric about a central axis; a secondary electrode positioned centrally between the plurality of primary electrodes; a first circuit for supplying power to the plurality of primary electrodes; and a second circuit for supplying power in the form of pulses of high voltage between the secondary electrode and alternate ones of the primary electrodes; a voltage applied by the second circuit being at least about 10 times greater than a voltage independently applied by the first circuit between the primary electrodes. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the time between pulses is less than the duration of a discharge between a pair of primary electrodes.3. The device of claim 1, wherein the duration of each pulse is sufficient to produce a single spark per pulse.4. The device of claim 1, wherein the secondary electrode is star-shaped, wherein each arm of the star extends toward a corresponding one of the primary electrodes.5. The device of claim 1, wherein the secondary electrode is tapered, such that a first end of the secondary electrode is closer to the primary electrodes than a second end of the secondary electrode.6. A method comprising:providing a plurality of primary electrodes; positioning the primary electrodes symmetrically about a central axis; positioning a secondary electrode centrally between the plurality of primary electrodes; applying a first voltage by a first circuit between pairs of the primary electrodes; and applying by an independent second circuit a second voltage in the form of pulses between the secondary electrode and alternate ones of the primary electrodes; the second voltage being at least about 10 times greater than the first voltage. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the lime between pulses is less than the duration of a discharge between a pair of primary electrodes.8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second voltage is applied for a period sufficient to produce a single spark per pulse.9. The method of claim 6, wherein the secondary electrode is star-shaped and wherein positioning the secondary electrode comprises positioning the secondary electrode with each arm of the star extending toward a corresponding one of the primary electrodes.10. The method of claim 6, wherein the secondary electrode is tapered, such that a first end of the secondary electrode is closer to the primary electrodes than a second end of the secondary electrode.11. A method for establishing unstable discharges between a pair of primary electrodes in a gas-filled reaction chamber, the method comprising:(a) positioning a secondary electrode between the primary electrodes; (b) applying a first voltage between the primary electrodes, wherein the first voltage is not sufficient to initiate a discharge in the absence of ionization of the gas; (c) applying a pulse of a second voltage between the secondary electrode and a first one of the primary electrodes to produce a first pilot discharge and corresponding ionization path; (d) applying a pulse of the second voltage between the secondary electrode and a second one of the primary electrodes to produce a second pilot discharge and corresponding ionization path; and (e) producing a primary discharge between the primary electrodes along the ionization paths produced by the pilot discharges. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first voltage is generated by a first circuit and the second voltage is generated by a second circuit which is independent of the first circuit.13. The method of claim 11, further comprising repeating (c)-(e) one or more times.14. A reactor comprising:a reaction chamber; a plurality of primary electrodes positioned in the reaction chamber; a secondary electrode positioned between the plurality of primary electrodes; a first circuit for supplying power to the plurality of primary electrodes; and a second circuit for supplying power between the secondary electrode and alternate ones of the primary electrodes; wherein the reactor is configured to produce pilot discharges between the secondary electrode and alternate ones of the primary electrodes, wherein the pilot discharges produce ionization paths through a gas in the reactor and primary discharges between the primary electrodes are established along the ionization paths.