High efficiency plasma creation system and method
AssigneeN.T. Tao Ltd.
InventorsDoron Weinfeld, Boaz Weinfeld, Oded Gour Lavie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chamber cross-sectional multi-stage plasma arrangement characterized by escalating charge movement towards chamber center axis through one or more escalation stages contributing to the heating of the plasma, the centering of the plasma on the chamber axis, and creating rotation of the plasma therein. Rotation of the plasma around its axis induces a self-generated magnetic field, which in turn increases plasma stability and confinement. Some of the said stages of the multi-stage arrangement may be created by physical elements and components while others may be induced or generated by externally applying magnetic and/or electric fields or their combinations and/or by injection of electrons, ions or other plasma.
Claims14
A method for generation of a virtual cathode along the central axis of a cylindrical chamber and thereby stably confining plasma contained therein, comprising the steps of:
- a. producing a vacuum in a cylindrical chamber;
- b. injecting a gas into the cylindrical chamber;
- c. applying a magnetic field about a portion of the cylindrical chamber;
- d. applying an initial electric potential between at least one physical anode wherein at least one of the at least one physical anodes is configured around the central axis and proximal to a first distal end thereof and between a physical cathode configured on the central axis and at a second distal end thereby producing a generally radial initial electric field;
- e. generating a plasma within the cylindrical chamber;
- f. generating an axially symmetric region of plasma in which plasma movement around central axis in the presence of said magnetic field and said initial electric field produces a net negative charge and thus a virtual cathode and thus a secondary electric potential and thereby a secondary electric field;
- and
- g. heating and further confining the plasma around the central axis, whereby a plasma is generated in a cylindrical chamber in which a magnetic field and an initial electric potential are also generated, and wherein a virtual cathode is generated thereby from region of plasma axially symmetric around the central axis, and wherein the plasma in the cylindrical chamber is further heated and confined by said virtual cathode, and wherein steps (d) and (e) can be taken in any order between steps (c) and (f).
A system for stably confining a plasma, comprising:
- a. a cylindrical chamber;
- b. a means for generating a magnetic field in the cylindrical chamber;
- c. a means of injecting gas into the cylindrical chamber;
- d. at least one physical anode wherein at least one of the at least one physical anodes is configured around the central axis and proximal to a first distal end thereof;
- e. at least one physical cathode configured on the central axis and at second distal end of the cylindrical chamber;
- and
- f. a control unit in communication with all other components;
- wherein the control unit coordinates the injection of gas into a cylindrical chamber and the generation of a magnetic field and the generation of an initial electric potential and thereby a generally radial initial electric field between the at least one physical anode and the at least one physical cathode;
- wherein a virtual cathode is generated thereby from region of plasma axially symmetric around the central axis, and wherein the plasma in the cylindrical chamber is further heated and confined by said virtual cathode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.