Beam fusion device and method

A fusion device wherein atomic nuclei react to generate reaction products with kinetic energies convertible to useful energy, said device comprising

• wall means defining and confining a reaction chamber,
• means for generating a substantially constant unidirectional magnetic field of predetermined strength in at least a portion of said reaction chamber,
• first and second means for directing respective first and second neutralized beams of respective first and second positive hot ions neutralized by electrons into said portion of said reaction chamber at substantially the same predetermined mean velocity substantially orthogonally of said magnetic field as first and second polarized beams of respective first and second positive hot ions, the first and second positive hot ions in said respective first and second neutralized beams being provided at temperatures in a range where said first and second positive hot ions have substantially optimum cross sections for their mutual fusion reaction to generate said reaction products, and
• means for draining the polarization of said first and second polarized beams to separate the neutralizing electrons from the respective first and second positive hot ions, the predetermined strength of the magnetic field and the predetermined velocities of the separated first and second positive hot ions being such as to provide centripetal force on the respective separated first and second positive hot ions to confine the ions to respective orbits within said portion of said reaction chamber, the directions and relative velocities of said separated first and second positive hot ions being such as to make the respective said orbits for said first and second positive hot ions substantially coextensive, with the first and second positive hot ions moving in substantially the same direction at substantially the same mean velocity.

A method for causing atomic nuclei to react to generate reaction products with kinetic energies convertible to useful energy, said method comprising

• generating a substantially constant unidirectional magnetic field of predetermined strength in at least a portion of a reaction chamber,
• providing first and second positive hot ions at temperatures in a range where said first and second positive ions have substantially optimum cross sections for their mutual fusion reaction to generate said reaction products,
• accelerating said first and second positive hot ions to predetermined velocities,
• neutralizing said accelerated first and second positive hot ions by electrons,
• directing said first and second positive hot ions neutralized by electrons into said portion of said reaction chamber substantially orthogonally of said magnetic field utilizing self-polarization, and
• draining the polarization of said neutralized and polarized first and second positive hot ions to separate the neutralizing electrons from the respective first and second positive hot ions in said portion of said reaction chamber, the predetermined strength of the magnetic field and the predetermined velocities to which said first and second positive hot ions are accelerated being such as to provide centripetal force on the respective separated first and second positive hot ions to confine the ions to respective orbits within said portion of said reaction chamber, and the directions and relative velocities of said separated first and second positive hot ions being such as to make the respective said orbits for said first and second positive hot ions substantially coextensive, with the first and second positive hot ions moving in substantially the same direction at substantially the same mean velocity.

A method for causing atomic nuclei to react to generate reaction products with kinetic energies convertible to useful energy, said method comprising

• generating a substantially constant unidirectional magnetic field of predetermined strength in at least a portion of a reaction chamber,
• directing first and second neutralized beams of respective first and second positive hot ions neutralized by electrons into said portion of said reaction chamber at substantially the same predetermined mean velocity substantially orthogonally of said magnetic field as first and second polarized beams of respective first and second positive hot ions, the first and second positive hot ions in said respective first and second neutralized beams having temperatures in a range where said first and second positive hot ions have substantially optimum cross sections for their mutual fusion reaction to generate said reaction products,
• draining the polarization of said first and second polarized beams to separate the neutralizing electrons from the respective first and second positive hot ions in said portion of said reaction chamber, the predetermined strength of the magnetic field and the predetermined velocities of the separated first and second positive hot ions being such as to provide centripetal force on the respective separated first and second positive hot ions to confine the ions to respective orbits within said portion of said reaction chamber, and the directions and relative velocities of said separated first and second positive hot ions being such as to make the respective said orbits for said first and second positive hot ions substantially coextensive with the first and second positive hot ions moving in substantially the same direction at substantially the same mean velocity.