Systems and methods for magnetically assisted inertial electrostatic confinement fusion

A device for generating fusion reactions, the device comprising:

• a cathodic magnet configured to generate a multi-poled magnetic field within an interior region thereof, the cathodic magnet defining openings at faces of a polyhedron;
• an anode surrounding the cathodic magnet;
• located about the anode, at least one ion source configured to emit ions substantially toward a center of the interior region;
• and
• located about the cathodic magnet, at least one electron emitter configured to emit electrons into the interior region,
• wherein (i) the anode and the cathodic magnet are configured to generate an electric field therebetween for accelerating the ions substantially toward the center of the interior region, and (ii) the cathodic magnet and the at least one electron emitter are configured to concentrate electrons about the center of the interior region and about centers of the faces of the polyhedron.

A device for generating fusion reactions, the device comprising:

• a cathodic magnet configured to generate a multi-poled magnetic field within an interior region thereof;
• an anode surrounding the cathodic magnet;
• located about the anode, at least one primary ion source configured to emit ions substantially toward a center of the interior region;
• and
• located about the cathodic magnet, at least one electron emitter configured to emit electrons into the interior region and at least one secondary ion source configured to emit fusion fuel into the interior region,
• wherein (i) the anode and the cathodic magnet are configured to generate an electric field therebetween for accelerating the ions substantially toward the center of the interior region, and (ii) the at least one electron emitter, the at least one secondary ion source, and the cathodic magnet are configured so that a substantially neutral plasma formed by the electrons and the fusion fuel is substantially confined within the interior region.

A method for generating fusion reactions, comprising:

• using a device for generating fusion reactions, the device comprising:
• a cathodic magnet configured to generate a multi-poled magnetic field within an interior region thereof;
• an anode surrounding the cathodic magnet;
• located about the anode, at least one ion source configured to emit ions substantially toward a center of the interior region;
• and
• located about the cathodic magnet, (i) at least one electron emitter configured to emit electrons into the interior region and (ii) at least one electron absorber configured to absorb electrons having energies exceeding an energy threshold from the interior region,
• wherein the anode and the cathodic magnet are configured to generate an electric field therebetween for accelerating the ions substantially toward the center of the interior region.

A device for generating fusion reactions, the device comprising:

• a cathodic magnet configured to generate a multi-poled magnetic field within an interior region thereof;
• an anode surrounding the cathodic magnet;
• at least one source of ions or ion precursors;
• and
• located about the cathodic magnet, (i) at least one electron emitter configured to emit electrons into the interior region and (ii) at least one electron absorber configured to absorb electrons having energies exceeding an energy threshold from the interior region,
• wherein the anode and the cathodic magnet are configured to generate an electric field therebetween for accelerating the ions substantially toward the center of the interior region.

A device for generating fusion reactions, the device comprising:

• a cathodic magnet configured to generate a multi-poled magnetic field within an interior region thereof, the cathodic magnet defining openings at faces of a polyhedron;
• an anode surrounding the cathodic magnet;
• at least one source of ions or ion precursors;
• and
• located about the cathodic magnet, at least one electron emitter configured to emit electrons into the interior region,
• wherein (i) the anode and the cathodic magnet are configured to generate an electric field therebetween for accelerating the ions substantially toward the center of the interior region, and (ii) the cathodic magnet and the at least one electron emitter are configured to concentrate electrons about the center of the interior region and about centers of the faces of the polyhedron.

A device for generating fusion reactions, the device comprising:

• a cathodic magnet configured to generate a multi-poled magnetic field within an interior region thereof;
• an anode surrounding the cathodic magnet;
• primary and secondary sources of fusion fuel;
• located about the anode, at least one primary ion source configured to emit ions substantially toward a center of the interior region;
• and
• located about the cathodic magnet, at least one electron emitter configured to emit electrons into the interior region and at least one secondary ion source configured to emit fusion fuel into the interior region,
• wherein (i) the anode and the cathodic magnet are configured to generate an electric field therebetween for accelerating the ions substantially toward the center of the interior region, and (ii) the at least one electron emitter, the at least one secondary ion source, and the cathodic magnet are configured so that a substantially neutral plasma formed by the electrons and the fusion fuel is substantially confined within the interior region.