Patents by Inventor Michi Binderbauer

Michi Binderbauer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Formation of a field reversed configuration for magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma
    Patent number: 9265137
    Abstract: A system and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Norman Rostoker, Michi Binderbauer, Artan Qerushi, Hooshang Tahsiri
  • FORMATION OF A FIELD REVERSED CONFIGURATION FOR MAGNETIC AND ELECTROSTATIC CONFINEMENT OF PLASMA
    Publication number: 20090220039
    Abstract: A system and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Norman Rostoker, Michi Binderbauer, Artan Qerushi, Hooshang Tahsiri