US 4,395,631 A · High density ion source

Abstract

A source for a high density electrically neutral beam of combined positive and negative particles suitable for bombardment and heating of a pellet of nuclear fusion material to fusion temperature. A source mounted in a housing with a spherical substrate having positive ion emitter material thereon, first, second and third grids spaced from each other along the beam path, and electron emitters, for providing positive ion beams and electron beams at the same velocity for mixing to provide an overall electrically neutral beam. A source utilizing a zeolite type compound, such as B-eucryptite or sodium mordenite, which on heating emits positive ions of an element in the compound, such as lithium or sodium. A source housing including precision ceramic rings with metal flanges, with substrate and grid structures carried on the flanges, with the flanges joined as by heliarc welding at their peripheries to provide a rigid mechanical and vacuum tight structure, with metal spacer rings between ceramic rings when desired.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A source for a focussed high density electrically substantially neutral beam of combined positive and negative particles, including in combination:

a housing;
a substrate mounted in said housing and having a generally spherical surface;
a plurality of strips of positive ion emitter material at said surface for emitting positive particles in beams;
a first positive ion extractor grid mounted in said housing spaced downstream from said surface;
a second positive ion accelerator grid mounted in said housing spaced downstream from said first grid;
a plurality of electron emitter strips mounted in said housing spaced downstream from said second grid;
and
a third electron accelerator grid mounted in said housing between said second grid and said electron emitter strips;
with said strips of positive ion emitter material aligned between said first and second grids for defining fan shaped ion beams, and
with said third grid and electron emitter strips aligned with said first and second grids for introducing electrons with said ion beams with the electrons and positive ions mixed and traveling in a single direction at substantially the same velocity to produce substantially neutral beams adjacent said electron emitter strips and ballistically focussed to a target.

7 more elements

A source for a focussed high density electrically substantially neutral beam of combined positive and negative particles, including in combination:

a housing;
a substrate mounted in said housing and having a generally spherical surface;
means for providing positive ions over said surface;
a first positive ion extractor grid mounted in said housing spaced downstream from said surface, said first grid including a plurality of spaced conductors, with the distance between adjacent conductors not more than substantially twice the distance between said conductors and said surface;
a second positive ion accelerator grid mounted in said housing spaced downstream from said first grid;
a plurality of electron emitter strips mounted in said housing downstream from said second grid;
and
a third electron accelerator grid mounted in said housing between said second grid and said electron emitter strips;
with said first and second grids defining fan shaped ion beams from said surface, and
with said third grid and electron emitter strips aligned with said first and second grids for introducing electrons with said ion beams with the electrons and positive ions mixed and traveling in a single direction at substantially the same velocity to produce substantially neutral beams adjacent said electrom emitter strips and ballistically focussed to a target.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

High density ion source

Life of this patent

High density ion source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24