US 4,246,067 AGranted

Thermonuclear fusion system

OwnerWilliam I. Linlorinventor

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Abstract

This invention discloses apparatus and methods to produce nuclear fusion utilizing fusible material in the form of high energy ion beams confined in magnetic fields. For example, beams of deuterons and tritons are injected in the same direction relative to the machine axis, but the deuteron velocity is sufficiently greater than the triton velocity so that the deuterons overtake the tritons at a relative velocity which produces a high fusion reaction cross section. The momentum of the deuterons is approximately equal to the momentum of the tritons so that both types of ions follow essentially the same path. Thus, the deuteron and triton beams, together with electrons for space charge neutralization, constitute a "moving-plasma", in which fusion reactions occur. Various alternative magnetic field configurations are described for confinement of the high energy ion beams. Methods are given for the starting and steady-state operation of the invention, based on change-of-charge-state trapping of injected material.

In an apparatus for nuclear fusion of the type having:

a. elongated vacuum chamber means with connecting end portions so as to provide an evacuatable containment volume;
said chamber having an axis of symmetry;
b. vacuum pump means communicating with said vacuum chamber so as to maintain a gas pressure less than 10.sup.-3 torr within the vacuum chamber;
c. means for producing magnetic fields so that said magnetic fields are present substantially throughout said vacuum chamber and are re-entrant on themselves;
an improved particle-injection apparatus comprising:
d. means for injecting fusible energetic particles having a kinetic energy greater than 104 electron volts so as to enter said magnetic fields in the direction approximately parallel to the axis of said vacuum chamber so that said particles will follow a closed path;
e. means for changing the charge state of said fusible particles while within said magnetic fields so that the resulting ions are produced within said magnetic fields to form ion beams;
f. said injection and change-in-charge-state being accomplished for a period of time so that said ion beams attain a density greater than 10.sup.12 particles per cubic centimeter;
g. said ion beams consisting of fusible species such as deuterons and tritons whose velocities are approximately in the same direction and whose speeds differ so as to cause fusion reactions in overtaking collisions between said ion beams, this being stated mathematically:
V.sub.D =V.sub.T +V.sub.rel
where V.sub.D represents the velocity of one species of fusible ions, such as deuterons, V.sub.T represents the velocity of another species of fusible ions, such as tritons, and V.sub.rel represents the difference in velocity of said fusible species, such as deuterons and tritons;
h. said ion beams such as deuterons and tritons having approximately equal momentum per unit charge this being stated mathematically:
Q.sub.D :
electric charge of species D
Q.sub.T :
electric charge of species T
Q.sub.T M.sub.D V.sub.D =M.sub.T V.sub.T Q.sub.D
where M.sub.D and V.sub.D represent, respectively, the mass and the velocity of one species of fusible ions, such as deuterons, and M.sub.T and V.sub.T represent, respectively, the mass and the velocity of another species of fusible ions, such as tritons;
i. means for producing electrons within and in the vicinity of said ion beams so as to substantially neutralize the charge of said ion beams, thereby producing an essentially neutral plasma.

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Abstract

Claims12