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US 8,891,719 B2Granted
Systems and methods for plasma compression with recycling of projectiles
AssigneeGeneral Fusion Inc.
InventorsStephen James Howard, Michel Georges Laberge, Lon McIlwraith, Douglas Harvey Richardson, James Gregson
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Abstract
Embodiments of systems and methods for compressing plasma are disclosed in which plasma can be compressed by impact of a projectile on a magnetized plasma in a liquid metal cavity. The projectile can melt in the liquid metal cavity, and liquid metal may be recycled to form new projectiles.
Claims17
An apparatus for compressing plasma, the apparatus comprising:
- a plasma injector configured to accelerate a compact toroid of plasma toward a cavity in a liquid metal;
- a projectile accelerator configured to accelerate a projectile toward the cavity such that the projectile can impact a liquid surface of the cavity in the liquid metal, wherein a surface of the projectile and the liquid surface of the cavity define a compression chamber into which the compact toroid is confined;
- and
- a timing system configured to coordinate acceleration of the compact toroid and acceleration of the projectile such that the projectile confines the compact toroid in the compression chamber.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.