TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Component: The element made from the dielectric material is at least one of granular particles and fibers. The inner electrode has openings. Ion traps are created within the openings due to the opposite electrical field direction on each side of the inner electrode. The protuberances are at least one of spikes, peaks (14) and bumps. Each set further comprises added set(s) of two electrodes, one inner and one outer. All inner electrodes are electrically connected together and all outer electrodes are electrically connected together, thus forming together a capacitance set with two terminals having 1+N inner electrodes and 2+N outer electrodes, where N is the number of added sets of two electrodes and is greater than or equal to0. The capacitance set resonates at a radio frequency (RF) with an impedance network (8, 13, 18) in series to provide an RF electrical field between the electrodes (4-6, 9-11, 15-17) superposed over the electric field provided by the high voltage waveform source. The terminal(s) is connected in series with the impedance network. The impedance network has a first inductor and a first resistor in series connected to the terminal to provide a resonant electrode function, and a second inductor and a second resistor in series providing a current limiting function and connected in series with the first resistor and the first inductor. Each electrode set forms capacitive load impedance being resonated at RF with the first inductor in series with the first resistor to increase the alternative current and improve the energy transfer between the high voltage waveform source and the electrode set. The sets are provided. Each set of electrodes constitutes a decontamination stage. The electrode sets are placed in succession in the gas flow. Each stage has a specific electronic current density and average energy through its connection to the high voltage waveform source and creates between the electrodes a specific and controlled electrical field giving emitted electrons a controlled average specific energy susceptible to at least one of break-up and ionization of the specific chemical bonds in the contaminants which have an energy matching the specific average electron energy. Each specific high voltage waveform (V1) from the high voltage waveform source is automatically adjusted to the ratio function of the measured air density (D1) to the reference air density (D0) corresponding to the reference voltage waveform (V0), by using the gas absolute temperature and pressure measurements to determine the gas density and using a mathematical formula (1): V1 = V0 x (D1/D0)-k), where exponent k is 0.5-1.5. The two outer electrodes are formed integrally and create a decontamination stage formed with two electrodes. The sets of electrodes have a planar or cylindrical geometry. The particle is one of spherical, semi-spherical, ovoid and polygonal particle. The multi-electrode system further comprises a controller (7) that controls parameters of the electric field created by the high voltage waveform source; sensors for operating conditions of the multi-electrode system; an additional set of three conductive electrodes; and a neutralizer state comprising a series of one of staggered wires and fine wire meshes, isolated from each other, electrically grounded (19) to earth at one end, placed within the passageway after the set(s). The controller adjusts the parameters to control the high voltage waveform source. The sensors are at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor and a light sensor. The controller has a status detector for detecting an operation status of the multi-electrode system and issuing a warning (25a-25c) if at least one of abnormal and malfunction status is detected. The three conductive electrodes have two outer electrodes electrically connected together forming the first terminal and one inner electrode placed between the two outer electrodes and forming the second terminal. The additional set is placed within the passageway after the set(s), in one of perpendicular and parallel orientation to the flow of gas. It is permeable to the gas flow when placed in a perpendicular orientation to the gas flow. The electrodes are conductive and free of any peak and are arranged such that the electrical field generated between the electrodes is not constant over the spacing distance and has a gradient. The high voltage waveform source supplies the first and second terminals and creates electrical fields between the outer electrodes and the inner electrode. The additional set captures remaining contaminants and contaminants by-products present in the gas. The wires and the meshes are coated with a catalytic material. They are connected to one of a voltage and a current source to heat and raise the temperature of the catalytic material. Remaining charged particles and undesired by-products in the gas are neutralized. Preferred Properties: The energy level is greater than the energy level of the molecular bonds of the contaminants. An effective electric field at a tip of the protuberances is 106 -30x106 V/minute. A diameter of the elements is 1/10-1/500 of the space.