Abstract: A high performance field reversed configuration (FRC) system includes a central confinement vessel, two diametrically opposed reversed-field-theta-pinch formation sections coupled to the vessel, and two divertor chambers coupled to the formation sections. A magnetic system includes quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components, quasi-dc mirror coils between the confinement chamber and the formation sections, and mirror plugs between the formation sections and the divertors. The formation sections include modular pulsed power formation systems enabling static and dynamic formation and acceleration of the FRCs. The FRC system further includes neutral atom beam injectors, pellet injectors, gettering systems, axial plasma guns and flux surface biasing electrodes. The beam injectors are preferably angled toward the midplane of the chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate the formation and maintenance of new High Performance Field Reversed Configurations (FRCs). An FRC system for the High Performance FRC (HPF) includes a central confinement vessel surrounded by two diametrically opposed reversed-field-theta-pinch formation sections and, beyond the formation sections, two divertor chambers to control neutral density and impurity contamination. A magnetic system includes a series of quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components, quasi-dc mirror coils between the confinement chamber and the adjacent formation sections, and mirror plugs between the formation sections and the divertors. The formation sections include modular pulsed power formation systems that enable FRCs to be formed in-situ and then accelerated and injected (=static formation) or formed and accelerated simultaneously (=dynamic formation).

Abstract: A system for vaporizing a powder material incorporates a laser source with an optical arrangement for generating and focusing a laser beam to a focal point. The beam is characterized by having a region with a converging/diverging angle (?), respectively upstream/downstream from the focal point. It also has a power density above a predetermined value within the region. A conduit is provided with a channel, and the laser beam is focused to conform to the region in the channel. A nozzle then directs powdered material into the laser beam at a location upstream from the region for vaporization of the powder material by the laser beam during its transit through the region.

Abstract: A nebulizer for atomizing a high-temperature liquid includes a truncated, conical concentrator that defines a vertex and that has a small-diameter end and a large-diameter end. The small-diameter end has a spherical-shaped, concave surface and the large-diameter end has a spherical-shaped, convex surface. A piezoelectric transducer has a spherical-shaped, concave surface that is attached to the convex surface of the concentrator. A cylindrical-shaped droplet manifold is positioned over the small-diameter end of the concentrator to create a liquid chamber in the manifold with the vertex inside the liquid chamber. A feeding tube introduces the high-temperature liquid into the liquid chamber until the surface of the liquid reaches the vertex. With an activation of the transducer, acoustic waves that have spherical wavefronts are launched away from the concave surface of the transducer. The concentrator propagates and directs the spherical wavefronts for convergence at the vertex to nebulize the liquid.

Abstract: A fluorine generator includes a vacuum chamber filled with a working gas. An r-f antenna is positioned outside the chamber across a dielectric window from a potassium fluoride (KF) source located in the chamber. The r-f antenna radiates through the window to heat the working gas and sublime the PK source to create a plasma. Crossed electric and magnetic fields in the chamber drive the heavier potassium ions in the plasma toward a collector in the chamber while confining the lighter fluorine and working gas ions for evacuation from the chamber.

Abstract: A device for separating the constituents of a multi-constituent material includes a substantially cylindrical plasma chamber and two, axially opposed plasma injectors. The injectors convert the multi-constituent material into a multi-species plasma and inject the multi-species plasma into a core portion of the plasma chamber. Ions in the plasma diffuse from the core portion to an annular volume within the chamber where the ions are separated according to their respective mass to charge ratios. To effect separation, electrodes and coils are provided to establish crossed electric and magnetic fields in the annular volume. With the crossed electric and magnetic fields, low-mass ions in the annular volume are placed on small orbit trajectories and drift axially for capture at the ends of the plasma chamber. High-mass ions in the annular volume are placed on large orbit trajectories for capture at the cylindrical wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A fluorine generator includes a vacuum chamber filled with a working gas. An r-f antenna is positioned outside the chamber across a dielectric window from a potassium fluoride (KF) source located in the chamber. The r-f antenna radiates through the window to heat the working gas and sublime the PK source to create a plasma. Crossed electric and magnetic fields in the chamber drive the heavier potassium ions in the plasma toward a collector in the chamber while confining the lighter fluorine and working gas ions for evacuation from the chamber.

Abstract: A device for separating a chemical mixture into its constituents includes a central cathode that is aligned axially within a cylindrical plasma chamber. An anode, made of the chemical mixture requiring separation is positioned near the cylindrical wall of the plasma chamber. A working gas is introduced into the chamber to sputter the chemical mixture into the plasma chamber where it is dissociated and ionized. To reduce the unwanted loss of the central cathode due to sputtering by the working gas, the central cathode is formed with a plurality of radial projections that extend outwardly from the axis of the cylindrical plasma chamber. These radial projections act to capture sputtered cathode material before it is lost to the plasma. Once the chemical mixture has been ionized in the plasma chamber, the ions are separated, according to their respective mass to charge ratio, using crossed electric and magnetic fields.

Abstract: A collector for use in removing metal ions from a plasma in a vacuum chamber includes a collector plate that is mounted inside the chamber and formed with an internal cooling channel. An injector introduces a dissociated salt into the chamber with a first throughput value, and it introduces a plasma including metal ions into the chamber with a lower second throughput value. A pump is used to pump a liquid coolant through the cooling channel to maintain the collector plate at a temperature that forms a portion of the salt as a protective layer on the collector plate, and causes the salt to thereafter deposit on the layer in a molten condition at a faster rate than evaporation therefrom to trap metal ions therein. The trapped metal ions are then removed with the molten salt from the chamber.

Abstract: A device for separating the constituents of a multi-constituent material includes a substantially cylindrical plasma chamber and two, axially opposed plasma injectors. The injectors convert the multi-constituent material into a multi-species plasma and inject the multi-species plasma into a core portion of the plasma chamber. Ions in the plasma diffuse from the core portion to an annular volume within the chamber where the ions are separated according to their respective mass to charge ratios. To effect separation, electrodes and coils are provided to establish crossed electric and magnetic fields in the annular volume. With the crossed electric and magnetic fields, low-mass ions in the annular volume are placed on small orbit trajectories and drift axially for capture at the ends of the plasma chamber. High-mass ions in the annular volume are placed on large orbit trajectories for capture at the cylindrical wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A device and method for producing sodium (Na) from a feed material such as a mixture of methane (CH4) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) includes a plasma torch configured to heat the feed material to a temperature sufficient to reduce and ionize sodium (Na). As such, a plasma jet is created by the plasma torch that contains ionized sodium (Na) and non-ionized neutrals such as hydrogen (H) and carbon monoxide (CO). From the plasma torch, the plasma jet is introduced into a chamber where a magnetic field has been established. Once inside the chamber the heated mixture of ions and neutrals interacts with the magnetic field in the chamber to cause the sodium ions to travel substantially along the magnetic field lines while the neutrals travel on paths that are essentially unaffected by the magnetic field. A collector is positioned to receive and accumulate sodium (Na).

Abstract: A device for separating a chemical mixture into its constituents includes a central cathode that is aligned axially within a cylindrical plasma chamber. An anode, made of the chemical mixture requiring separation is positioned near the cylindrical wall of the plasma chamber. A working gas is introduced into the chamber to sputter the chemical mixture into the plasma chamber where it is dissociated and ionized. To reduce the unwanted loss of the central cathode due to sputtering by the working gas, the central cathode is formed with a plurality of radial projections that extend outwardly from the axis of the cylindrical plasma chamber. These radial projections act to capture sputtered cathode material before it is lost to the plasma. Once the chemical mixture has been ionized in the plasma chamber, the ions are separated, according to their respective mass to charge ratio, using crossed electric and magnetic fields.

Abstract: A collector for use in removing metal ions from a plasma in a vacuum chamber includes a collector plate that is mounted inside the chamber and formed with an internal cooling channel. An injector introduces a dissociated salt into the chamber with a first throughput value, and it introduces a plasma including metal ions into the chamber with a lower second throughput value. A pump is used to pump a liquid coolant through the cooling channel to maintain the collector plate at a temperature that forms a portion of the salt as a protective layer on the collector plate, and causes the salt to thereafter deposit on the layer in a molten condition at a faster rate than evaporation therefrom to trap metal ions therein. The trapped metal ions are then removed with the molten salt from the chamber.

Abstract: A device and method for producing sodium (Na) from a feed material such as a mixture of methane (CH4) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) includes a plasma torch configured to heat the feed material to a temperature sufficient to reduce and ionize sodium (Na). As such, a plasma jet is created by the plasma torch that contains ionized sodium (Na) and non-ionized neutrals such as hydrogen (H) and carbon monoxide (CO). From the plasma torch, the plasma jet is introduced into a chamber where a magnetic field has been established. Once inside the chamber the heated mixture of ions and neutrals interacts with the magnetic field in the chamber to cause the sodium ions to travel substantially along the magnetic field lines while the neutrals travel on paths that are essentially unaffected by the magnetic field. A collector is positioned to receive and accumulate sodium (Na).

Abstract: A plasma torch for vaporizing a molten salt containing a volatile component and a refractory component injects the molten salt into a device that includes a cylindrical shaped outer member and a cylindrical shaped inner member coaxially positioned inside the outer member to surround a chamber. An induction coil positioned between the inner and outer members generates r.f. power which is initially used to vaporize the volatile component of the molten salt to create a carrier gas having an elevated temperature. The carrier gas then heats the refractory component, under an increased vapor pressure from the carrier gas. This action, in turn, breaks down the refractory component of the molten salt into fine droplets. These fine droplets are maintained in the chamber until they also vaporize. In one embodiment, the plasma torch includes a nozzle for spraying droplets of the molten salt into said chamber.

Abstract: A filter and a method for separating ions in a partially ionized plasma according to their mass includes a chamber with crossed electric and magnetic fields established therein. A feed, including metal atoms having ionization potentials in a low range, and gas atoms having an ionization potential in a high range, is introduced into the chamber. An electron temperature below the low range is generated to partially ionize the feed by dissociating the metal atoms from the gas atoms, and by ionizing the metal atoms into light and heavy ions according to their mass to charge ratio. The light and heavy ions are then influenced by the crossed electric and magnetic fields to separate the light ions from the heavy ions.

Abstract: A device and method for separating ions uses electric and magnetic fields that are specifically configured and oriented in a vacuum chamber. Also, a central electrode that is made of the materials whose ions are to be separated is positioned in the chamber. Magnetic coils mounted on the chamber generate a magnetic field, B, that is oriented parallel to the central electrode and is configured with a disk-shaped magnetic mirror at one end of the chamber, and an annular-shaped magnetic mirror at the other end. A plurality of electrodes generate an electric field, E, that is oriented perpendicular to the central electrode. In operation, neutral atoms in the chamber are ionized by the electric field. The electric field, however, is specifically configured to confine relatively lighter mass ions in the chamber. These ions are then subsequently removed from the chamber through the opening in the annular-shaped magnetic mirror.

Abstract: A plasma mass filter using a helical magnetic field for separating low-mass particles from high-mass particles in a multi-species plasma includes a cylindrical outer wall located at a distance “a” from a longitudinal axis. Also included is a coaxial cylindrical inner wall positioned to establish a plasma chamber between the inner and outer walls. The magnetic field is generated in this chamber with an axial component (Bz) and an azimuthal component (B&thgr;), which interact together with an electric field to create crossed magnetic and electric fields. The electric field has a positive potential, Vctr, on the inner wall and a zero potential on the outer wall.