Laser wake-field acceleration (LWFA)-based nuclear fission system and related techniques
AssigneeIron Oak LLC
InventorsSteven J. Winston, John T. Preston
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser wake-field acceleration (LWFA)-based nuclear fission system and related techniques are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, the disclosed system may be configured to accelerate charged particles, such as protons, to velocities close to the speed of light utilizing LWFA. The system also may be configured, in accordance with some embodiments, to use these high-energy relativistic charged particles in causing nuclear fission of a given downstream fissionable target, thereby releasing large amounts of harvestable energy. Optionally, the system further may be configured, in accordance with some embodiments, to utilize charged particles resulting from the fission in producing electrical energy.
Claims28
A system comprising:
- a laser wake-field accelerator comprising:
- at least one laser source configured to produce a laser beam;
- and
- a plasma source configured to produce a plasma;
- wherein the laser wake-field accelerator is configured to direct the laser beam to be incident with the plasma to produce a charged particle beam;
- and
- an energy collector configured to collect energy released from nuclear fission of a fissionable target struck by the charged particle beam.
A method of harvesting energy from a nuclear fission reaction, the method comprising:
- generating at least one laser beam;
- delivering the at least one laser beam to a plasma so as to generate, via laser wake-field acceleration, a charged particle beam;
- delivering the charged particle beam to a fissionable target so as to cause nuclear fission thereof;
- and
- collecting energy released from the nuclear fission of the fissionable target.
A system comprising:
- a laser wake-field accelerator comprising:
- at least one laser source configured to produce a laser beam;
- and
- a plasma source configured to produce a plasma;
- wherein the laser wake-field accelerator is configured to direct the laser beam to be incident with the plasma to produce a charged particle beam that has an energy in a GeV range;
- and
- an energy collector configured to collect energy released from nuclear fission of a fissionable target struck by at least one of an electron, a proton, and an ion of the charged particle beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.