Abstract: The present invention provides a neutron generating device for generating a high neutron flux by forming plasma in the vicinity of a target and by accelerating electrons and charged particles in the plasma toward the target. Magnetic field is formed in the vicinity of the target and a microwave generator irradiates microwaves into the space where the magnetic field is generated to thereby generate plasma in the space. The accelerated electrons and charged particles collide with the target to generate neutron flux. Also, to prevent the target surface from being excessively heated, the plasma is generated in a pulsed mode and target voltage is applied in a pulsed mode. To secure a continuous process, the level of target bias voltage for the target is adjusted so that the target re-adsorbs elements when the elements adsorbed on the target are depleted.

Abstract: A non-radio-isotopic radiological source using a dense plasma focus (DPF) to produce an intense z-pinch plasma from a gas, such as helium, and which accelerates charged particles, such as generated from the gas or injected from an external source, into a target positioned along an acceleration axis and of a type known to emit ionizing radiation when impinged by the type of accelerated charged particles. In a preferred embodiment, helium gas is used to produce a DPF-accelerated He2+ ion beam to a beryllium target, to produce neutron emission having a similar energy spectrum as a radio-isotopic AmBe neutron source. Furthermore, multiple DPFs may be stacked to provide staged acceleration of charged particles for enhancing energy, tunability, and control of the source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a neutron generating device for generating a high neutron flux by forming plasma in a high density in the vicinity of a target and by preventing the target surface from being excessively heated. Magnetic field is formed in the vicinity of the target to generate plasma inside a space, in which the magnetic field is formed so as to produce plasma in a high density in the vicinity of the target, thereby allowing a high neutron flux to be emitted from a target. Also, the present invention prevents the target surface from being excessively heated by producing plasma in pulsed mode and by applying target voltage in pulsed mode and secures a continuous process by adjusting a target bias voltage for targets that have depleted the adsorbed elements during the process to allow re-adsorption.

Abstract: A method for the operation of a plasma device (100) is described in which particles (2) are arranged in a plasma, wherein a generation of electric travelling waves (1) is provided, under whose effective action the particles (2) in the plasma device (100) perform a directed movement to at least one pre-determined collection area (20, 20A). A plasma device for carrying out the method is also described.

Abstract: An antenna structure for an inductively coupled plasma generator suitable for processing large-diameter wafers or large, flat-panel display devices by making a plasma density distribution uniform and symmetrical with respect to a rotating direction inside a circular or rectangular chamber in which a wafer is processed. In the antenna structure having a powered end to which RF power is applied and a ground end connected to the ground, at least two loop antenna elements are disposed electrically in parallel with each other, the powered ends and ground ends of the respective antennas are disposed symmetrically with respect to the center of the antennas, and the antennas crossing each other such that the powered ends and ground ends thereof are disposed at a part far from a chamber and central parts thereof are disposed at a part close to the chamber.

Abstract: A compound plasma configuration can be formed from a device having pins, and an annular electrode surrounding the pins. A cylindrical conductor is electrically connected to, and coaxial with, the annular electrode, and a helical conductor coaxial with the cylindrical conductor. The helical conductor is composed of wires, each wire electrically connected to each pin. The annular electrode and the pins are disposed in the same direction away from the interior of the conducting cylinder.

Abstract: A comb-line antenna structure (80) includes a multiplicity of parallel current straps (86) through which an appropriate rf electrical current passes in order to launch a desired magnetosonic wave (42) into an adjacent plasma mass (39). The current straps are mounted within a conductive, shallow, open box (88, 90) that faces the plasma mass. The current straps are inductively coupled, thereby requiring only a single rf input port (82) at one end of the comb-line structure. The rf input port provides a substantially constant impedance to an rf power source. A single rf output port (84) at the other end of the comb-line structure allows for the recirculation of the rf power. A multiplicity of U-shaped wickets (92) loop over and enclose each current strap. Such wickets function as a Faraday shield to shield the plasma and adjacent current straps from electrostatic fields.

Abstract: A fusion power generating device is disclosed having a relatively small and inexpensive core region which may be contained within an energy absorbing blanket region. The fusion power core region contains apparatus of the toroidal type for confining a high density plasma. The fusion power core is removable from the blanket region and may be disposed and/or recycled for subsequent use within the same blanket region. Thermonuclear ignition of the plasma is obtained by feeding neutral fusible gas into the plasma in a controlled manner such that charged particle heating produced by the fusion reaction is utilized to bootstrap the device to a region of high temperatures and high densities wherein charged particle heating is sufficient to overcome radiation and thermal conductivity losses. The high density plasma produces a large radiation and particle flux on the first wall of the plasma core region thereby necessitating replacement of the core from the blanket region from time to time.

Abstract: A method for establishing a region of a high density, high energy plasma at an altitude of at least about 1500 kilometers above the earth's surface. Circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation is transmitted at a first frequency substantially parallel to an earth's magnetic field line to excite electron cyclotron resonance heating in normally occurring plasma at an altitude of at least about 250 kilometers to generate a mirror force which lifts said plasma to said altitude of at least about 1500 kilometers. Heating is continued at a second frequency to expand the plasma to the apex of said field line whereupon at least some of the plasma is trapped and oscillates between mirror points on said lines. The plasma will be contained within adjacent field lines and will drift to form a shell of relativistic particles around a portion of the earth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing microwave radiation wherein a generally stable, high-beta, relativistic electron plasma is formed in a static magnetic field of a suitable enclosure either by an external microwave source or in situ within the plasma by means of at least one pair of steady-state interacting energetic electron beams, a convectively unstable wave then being created in the confined plasma either internally in an oscillator mode or externally in an amplifier mode by means of an external launcher for producing a pulse of relatively intense microwave radiation at a frequency near a local electron gyrofrequency. The above steps or functions are preferably sequentially repeated with sequential pulses of microwave radiation being withdrawn from the enclosure, focused by quasi-optical means and directed toward a target including electronic circuitry, so that the beam of sequential pulses is coupled into the electronic circuitry for developing substantial amounts of energy therein.

Abstract: A reversed field pinch apparatus is equipped with a first OH coil and a second OH coil which are inductively coupled with a plasma. The first OH coil is supplied a low-level alternating current for performing F-.THETA. pumping, while the second OH coil is supplied a high-level direct current for forming a plasma current.

Abstract: A method of producing fusion reactions comprises the steps of bringing deuterium ions from an ion source to run in a substantially closed path for accumulation of the ions to a predetermined density, whereupon the ions are deflected towards a reaction center inside this closed path. An apparatus for a fusion reactor includes two annular, coaxially disposed magnets (12,20) which are disposed to produce magnetic fields in a vacuum tank. The inner magnet (20) produces a homogenous field transversely to the plane in which deuterium ions are intended to circulate prior to reaction, and the outer magnet (12,14) produces an inhomogenous field which decreases outwardly in radial direction and is also directed transversely to said plane. Electrodes (16,18) are provided to produce a radial electric field in the area having said inhomogenous magnetic field, which electric field is directed transversely to this inhomogenous field.

Abstract: A resonant double loop radio frequency (rf) antenna for radiating high-power rf energy into a magnetically confined plasma. An inductive element in the form of a large current strap, forming the radiating element, is connected between two variable capacitors to form a resonant circuit. A real input impedance results from tapping into the resonant circuit along the inductive element, generally near the midpoint thereof. The impedance can be matched to the source impedance by adjusting the separate capacitors for a given tap arrangement or by keeping the two capacitances fixed and adjustng the tap position. This results in a substantial reduction in the voltage and current in the transmission system to the antenna compared to unmatched antennas. Because the complete circuit loop consisting of the two capacitors and the inductive element is resonant, current flows in the same direction along the entire length of the radiating element and is approximately equal in each branch of the circuit.

Abstract: An open waveguide electromagnetic wave radiator is used to radiate electromagnetic waves of cyclotron frequency to plasma within a vacuum container. This radiator comprises a waveguide having evacuation holes and containing ridges having a T-shaped cross-section, a radiator section connected to, and integrally formed with, the open end of the waveguide, evacuation pipes connected to the evacuation holes, a chamber enclosing the closed end portion of the waveguide and the evacuation pipes, and a pump for evacuating the chamber. The evacuation holes are made in that wall of the waveguide to which the leg of one of the ridges is connected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing microwave radiation wherein a generally stable, high-beta, relativistic electron plasma is formed and magnetically confined in a magnetic mirror region of a suitable enclosure, a convectively unstable wave then being created in the confined plasma for producing a pulse of relatively intense microwave radiation at a frequency near a local electron gyrofrequency of the plasma, the plasma preferably being formed by simultaneous multiple-frequency electron cyclotron heating and upper off-resonant heating using microwave power at frequencies above the electron gyrofrequency of the plasma.

Abstract: The present invention is a nuclear fusion reactor serving to contain a totally organized tritium-deuterium plasma by guiding the self-bombarding particles in a resonating path of a particular wavelength and frequency, similar to a radio wave. Under these conditions the electrons tend to remain cooler, which reduces plasma radiation energy losses. Energy may be added to the plasma by axially distributed oscillators of the proper frequency, raising the plasma to ignition temperature and densities. Finally the ignited plasma directs its high energy neutrons into strategically located lithium blankets and the ionic energy levels are controlled by causing the plasma to generate an alternating electric current. Various types of alternate fusion reactions are briefly considered.

Abstract: Plasma including plasma ions is magnetically confined by a magnetic field. The plasma has a defined outer surface and is intersected by resonance surfaces of respective common ion cyclotron frequency of a predetermined species of plasma ions moving in the magnetic field. A radio frequency source provides radio frequency power at a radio frequency corresponding to the ion cyclotron frequency of the predetermined species of plasma ions moving in the field at a respective said resonance surface.

Abstract: Cyclotron breakdown is prevented in a partially evacuated waveguide by providing a section of waveguide having an axial cut therein in order to apply a potential across the two halves of the waveguide. This section is positioned in the waveguide crossing the area of electron cyclotron resonance. The potential applied across the waveguide halves is used to deflect seed electrons into the wall of the waveguide in order to prevent ionization of gas molecules and creation of more electron ion pairs which would result in cyclotron breakdown. Support means is also disclosed for electrically isolating the waveguide halves and transition means is provided between the section of the waveguide with the axial cut and the solid waveguide at either end thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resonant coil cavity wave launcher for energizing a plasma immersed in a magnetic field. Energization includes launching fast Alfven waves to excite ion cyclotron frequency resonances in the plasma. The cavity includes inductive and capacitive reactive members spaced no further than one-quarter wavelength from a first wall confinement chamber of the plasma. The cavity wave launcher is energized by connection to a waveguide or transmission line carrying forward power from a remote radio frequency energy source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing a gas pumping plasma within an evacuated enclosure having a collimating system consisting of baffle structures and a magnetic field having a central uniform region connected to a source of neutral gas, a magnetic mirror intermediate region and a terminating divergent region. According to the method and apparatus of the present invention, the enclosure is evacuated to a selected pressure, high frequency microwave energy of a selected power and frequency is fed into the magnetic mirror intermediate region, the magnetic field is established at a strength such that an electron cyclotron frequency is made equal to the frequency of the microwave energy within the intermediate region, electrons within the magnetic mirror intermediate region being heated by the microwave energy, the heated electrons ionizing the neutral gas in the intermediate and central regions for creating and maintaining a pumping plasma.

Abstract: A fusion reactor (10) includes a sphere (12). Structure (20) is disposed within the interior of the sphere (12) for producing a magnetic field. Structure (24, 26) is circumferentially disposed around the exterior of the sphere (12) for producing a countermagnetic field. Structure (28, 32, 38, 46a) is provided for injecting a gas containing fusible ions into the sphere (12). Structure (30, 32, 38, 46) is also provided for heating the gas within the interior of the sphere (12). Structure (62, 64, 66, 68) is provided for extracting heat from the sphere (12).

Abstract: A system for the generation of toroidal current in a plasma which is prepared in a toroidal magnetic field. The system utilizes the injection of high-frequency waves into the plasma by means of waveguides. The wave frequency and polarization are chosen such that when the waveguides are tilted in a predetermined fashion, the wave energy is absorbed preferentially by electrons traveling in one toroidal direction. The absorption of energy in this manner produces a toroidal electric current even when the injected waves themselves do not have substantial toroidal momentum. This current can be continuously maintained at modest cost in power and may be used to confine the plasma. The system can operate efficiently on fusion grade tokamak plasmas.

Abstract: A system for the generation of toroidal current in a plasma which is prepared in a toroidal magnetic field. The system utilizes the injection of low-frequency waves into the plasma by means of phased antenna arrays or phased waveguide arrays. The plasma is prepared with a minority ion species of different charge state and different gyrofrequency from the majority ion species. The wave frequency and wave phasing are chosen such that the wave energy is absorbed preferentially by minority species ions traveling in one toroidal direction. The absorption of energy in this manner produces a toroidal electric current even when the injected waves themselves do not have substantial toroidal momentum. This current can be continuously maintained at modest cost in power and may be used to confine the plasma. The system can operate efficiently on fusion grade tokamak plasmas.