US 10,580,534 B2 · Method and apparatus for periodic ion collisions

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein relating to fusion reactors for fusing particles via multiple periodic collisions. A fusion reactor may include a first evacuated region, such as a chamber, with a plurality of charged particles therein. A uniform magnetic field may be applied to the region to radially confine moving charged particles within the region by inducing circular trajectories. Upper and lower electrodes may be positioned on ends of the region to axially confine charged particles within the region. An energizing beam may be pulsed at a cyclotron frequency corresponding to the mass and charge of the particles to cause oscillating periodic collisions of the particles along the beam path as the particles travel in the circular trajectories with increased velocity after each pulse of the energizing beam.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for fusing particles, comprising:

generating a substantially uniform electromagnetic field within an evacuated region;
populating the chamber with a plurality of chargeable particles;
pulsing an energizing beam a first instance along a beam path that is substantially parallel to the uniform electromagnetic field to energize at least some of the chargeable particles and cause them to travel in a circular pattern;
pulsing the energizing beam a second instance along the same beam path after a period of time corresponding to a cyclotron frequency of the particles that is based on a charge of the particles and a mass of the particles;
and
pulsing the energizing beam a plurality of instances after the second instance at the cyclotron frequency to energize the particles sufficiently to cause at least two of the particles to collide at the location of the beam path with sufficient energy to fuse.

3 more elements

A fusion reactor for fusing particles via multiple periodic ion collisions, comprising:

a first evacuated region;
a first plurality of chargeable particles positioned within the first evacuated region;
a magnetic field generator to generate a substantially uniform magnetic field with field lines extending from a first end of the first evacuated region to a second end of the first evacuated region;
an energizing beam source to generate a pulsed beam along an axis of the first evacuated region at a cyclotron frequency corresponding to a mass and charge of an individual chargeable particle of the first plurality of chargeable particles;
a first confinement electrode to confine particles in a first direction along the axis of the first evacuated region;
and
a second confinement electrode to confine particles in a second direction along the axis of the first evacuated region such that particles are axially confined between the first confinement electrode and the second confinement electrode,
wherein the magnetic field causes charged particles within the first evacuated region to move in a circular trajectory, and thereby radially confines the particles within the first evacuated region for at least particle velocities less than a velocity required for fusion of the particles.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for periodic ion collisions

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for periodic ion collisions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20