Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic simulator that includes a plasma container. The magnetohydrodynamic simulator also includes an first ionizable gas substantially contained within the plasma container. In addition, the magnetohydrodynamic simulator also includes a first loop positioned adjacent to the plasma container, wherein the first loop includes a gap, a first electrical connection on a first side of the gap, a second electrical connection of a second side of the gap, and a first material having at least one of low magnetic susceptibility and high conductivity. The first loop can be made up from an assembly of one or a plethora or wire loop coils. In such cases, electrical connection is made through the ends of the coil wires. The magnetohydrodynamic simulator further includes an electrically conductive first coil wound about the plasma container and through the first loop.

Abstract: A device for accelerating ions between a potential towards a central point in space is disclosed. The device can be used to accelerate ions along a collision path with other accelerated ions or other present particles resulting in a nuclear fusion reaction. The device improves upon the prior art by using a plasma as one of the electrodes forming the potential.

Abstract: Time-temperature indicators (TTIs) which are generated by converting indicator compounds from an inactive state to an active state using a thermal transfer printing apparatus are described.

Abstract: Flow of mercury from a liquid-heavy-metal inflow port toward an inner forward end of a container body is rectified by a plurality of incoming-passage guide vanes in a liquid-heavy-metal incoming passage. Flow of the mercury from the forward end of the container body toward a liquid-heavy-metal outflow port is rectified by a plurality of return-passage guide vanes in a liquid-heavy-metal return passage. As a result, occurrence of stagnation and/or recirculation flows of the mercury in the container body is suppressed and a steady and highly uniform stream of the mercury is formed throughout in the container body. The container body is covered with a container outer shell to prevent any leakage of the mercury to outside due to a damage of the container body.

Abstract: A cluster ion synthesis process utilizing a containerless environment to grow in a succession of steps cluster ions of large mass and well defined distribution. The cluster ion growth proceeds in a continuous manner in a plurality of growth chambers which have virtually unlimited storage times and capacities.

Abstract: The method of producing specific cluster ions utilizing an ionization source to produce ions which are then sorted or resolved according to velocity and mass. The selected ions are passed through a growth chamber containing a gaseous vapor of a specified element and are coated by the vapor to provide coated cluster ions. The coated cluster ions are mass selected and held in an ion trap.

Abstract: A target for implosion by ion beams composed of a spherical shell of frozen DT surrounded by a low-density, low-Z pusher shell seeded with high-Z material, and a high-density tamper shell. The target has various applications in the inertial confinement technology. For certain applications, if desired, a low-density absorber shell may be positioned intermediate the pusher and tamper shells.

Abstract: An intense high current, high voltage pulsed beam comprising bursts of electrons of about 40 nanoseconds duration each, having a beam radius of about 1 mm is projected through an anode consisting of a hollow tube with much smaller diameter than that of the diode tube surrounding the cathode. By appropriate selection of combinations of materials, sizes, shapes, and surface treatments surrounding the beam in its travel through the anode, or by means such as ion beams directed back along the beam, or by laser pulses on selected areas inside the anode or on the cathode tip, or by controlling supply of appropriate gases or vapors through a small diameter tubular cathode, either metallic or dielectric, and separately into the tubular anode near the end farthest from the cathode and nearer the target, the beam is made to pinch down to a radius of about 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multistage high voltage accelerator which especially should be capable of producing intense ion-beams of many million Ampere and many million Volts. The proposed accelerator may reach beam voltages of 10.sup.8 [V] and beam currents of 10.sup.7 [A]. The accelerator consists of several axially arranged cylindrical high voltage vacuum insulated capacitors charged in parallel and which over triggered spark gap switches are discharged in series. The closing of the spark gap switches is done in such a manner that a magnetically selfinsulated high voltage pulse moves down the line composed by these capacitors. Super-ion-beams produced by this type of accelerator can exceed the limiting Alfven current for light ions, typically 10.sup.7 [A], and at which beam pinching occurs. The beam pinching of these super-beams permits them to be precisely focused onto a target for the controlled release of thermonuclear energy.

Abstract: A nuclear fusion process for igniting a nuclear fusion pellet in a manner similar to that proposed for laser beams uses, an array of pulsed high energy combined particle beams focused to bombard the pellet for isentropically compressing it to a Fermi-degenerate state by thermal blow-off and balanced beam momentum transfer. Each combined particle beam is arranged to produce electric charge neutrality in a volume around the target so that space charge induced expansion is avoided. Each high energy combined beam is produced by merging in neutralizing proportion a convergently focused stream of positive particles and at least one convergently focused stream of negative particles to form an electrically neutralized combined beam having a deBroglie wavelength focal pattern at the region of pellet collision. The momentum and fusible mass of the particle beams reduce the ablation loss and result in a larger fraction of the pellet being available for fusion reaction.

Abstract: A system based on the magnetic compression of ion rings, for generating intense (high-current), high-energy ion pulses that are guided to a target without a metallic wall or an applied external magnetic field includes a vacuum chamber; an inverse reflex tetrode for producing a hollow ion beam within the chamber; magnetic coils for producing a magnetic field, B.sub.