High-Energy Plasma Generator Using Radio-Frequency and Neutral Beam Power

An apparatus for producing high-energy plasma, comprising:

• magnets configured to provide a magnetic mirror containment field with axially-extending magnetic flux lines converging proximate to a first axial end and a second axial end of a volume containing a plasma;
• a neutral beam generator configured to direct a neutral beam of particles into the plasma to generate ions in the volume, the generated ions having a first energy less than a fusion energy threshold of the generated ions;
• and
• a radiofrequency generator configured to produce an electric field, the electric field configured to accelerate the generated ions in the containment volume to a second energy greater than or equal to the fusion energy threshold of the generated ions.

A fusion apparatus, comprising:

• a reaction volume configured to hold a fusible material within a first axially-extending magnetic containment field;
• a first plasma plug and a second plasma plug flanking the reaction volume along the axis, each of the first and second plasma plugs including:
• (a) magnets configured to provide a magnetic mirror containment field converging at opposed first and second ends of a containment volume holding a plasma;
• (b) a neutral beam generator configured to direct a neutral beam of particles into the plasma to generate ions in the containment volume, the neutral beam having a first energy less than a fusion energy of the generated ions;
• and
• (c) a radiofrequency generator configured to produce an electric field, the electric field configured to accelerate the generated ions in the containment volume to a second energy greater than the first energy.

An apparatus for producing high-energy plasma, comprising:

• magnets configured to generate a magnetic mirror containment field with axially-extending magnetic flux lines converging at opposed first and second ends of a volume holding a plasma;
• a first energy source configured to direct a first energy into the plasma, the first energy less than a fusion energy of ions in the plasma;
• and
• a second energy source different from the first energy source, the second energy source configured to accelerate the ions to a second energy, the second energy greater than or equal to the fusion energy of the ions.

A method, comprising:

• containing a plasma in a volume with a magnetic mirror containment field;
• directing a neutral beam of particles into the plasma at a first energy to generate ions in the plasma, the first energy less than a fusion energy threshold of the generated ions;
• and
• accelerating the generated ions to a second energy greater than or equal to the fusion energy threshold of the generated ions via an electrical field generated by a radiofrequency wave.