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US 4,734,247 AGranted
Helical shaping method and apparatus to produce large translational transform in pinch plasma magnetic confinement
AssigneeGA Technologies Inc.
InventorMichael J. Schaffer
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Abstract
A magnetically confined helical z-pinch plasma is formed as a helicoid having an approximately D-shaped cross section, thereby generating a large transform of magnetic field line pitch suitably distributed throughout the plasma volume to aid in the reversal of field lines in the axial direction and increase magnetic shear.
Claims1
A method for generating and magnetically confining plasma in a pinch with translational transform comprising:
- generating plasma,
- shaping and positioning said plasma into a helicoid of substantially D-shape in cross sections perpendicular to a guiding axis with the relatively flat portion of the D-shape nearest said guiding axis and the relatively convex portion of the D-shape farther from said guiding axis with the plasma wound substantially helically about said guiding axis,
- passing current through said plasma to form a reverse field pinch with a respective set of nested closed magnetic surfaces enclosing and defining a magnetic axis substantially helically wound about said guiding axis, and
- applying a magnetic field through said plasma in the direction of said magnetic axis.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.