Method and apparatus for particle acceleration
OwnerFabrizio Pintoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for accelerating and a decelerating particles based on particle surface interactions. In particular, in some embodiments, particles traveling away from a surface are made to travel at either a higher or lower speed than that with which they approached the surface. This change in velocity is effected by prompting the particles to undergo atomic transitions during their interaction with the surface.
Claims28
A method comprising:
- directing a plurality of particles toward a surface, wherein said surface is physically configured to allow said particles to approach said surface to a minimum distance but not contact said surface;
- and
- exciting at least some of said particles by exposing them to electromagnetic radiation.
A method comprising:
- directing a plurality of particles toward a surface, wherein said surface is physically configured to allow said particles to approach said surface to a minimum distance but not contact said surface;
- and
- prompting at least some of said particles into atomic transitions during their interaction with said surface.
A method comprising:
- exciting a plurality of particles;
- directing said plurality of particles to a closest approach to a surface;
- and
- releasing a photon from at least some of said excited particles.
An article comprising:
- a particle source;
- a particle exciter to excite at least some particles exiting said particle source;
- and
- a surface having a physical configuration suitable for allowing a minimum distance approach of said particles to said surface.
A propulsion device comprising:
- a surface;
- first electromagnetic energy source for exciting particles by exposing them to electromagnetic radiation, wherein said particles are moving toward a part of said surface but not into contact with said surface, wherein, at said part, said particles make their closest approach to said surface;
- and
- a second electromagnetic energy source for de-exciting particles by exposing them to electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when de-excited, said particles are near closest approach to said surface.
A method comprising altering a physical factor of a surface when a particle is near closest contact with said surface, wherein said altered physical factor affects a Casimir force between said surface and said particle, and wherein said physical factor is altered by a technique selected from the group consisting of applying energy to said surface, changing an amount of energy applied to said surface, withdrawing energy from said surface, and changing an amount of energy withdrawn from said surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.