Abstract: A plasma heating device efficiently generates a high temperature. A tubular conductor has a cylindrical inner surface covered with a negatively charged insulating film. A tubular anode is supported inside the conductor with insulating material. An incident pipe, with an inner surface covered with insulating film, is negatively charged and extends tangentially on the conductor and has an incident port at one end and the other end communicating with the inside of the conductor. Hydrogen gas is supplied inside the conductor through a pipe and anode. A vacuum chamber connects to a pump, the inside thereof communicates with the incident pipe. An electron gun produces an electron beam from the incident port through inside the vacuum chamber into the conductor wherein the electron beam is reflected by the negatively charged conductor and the gas in the conductor plasmalizes. A cooler surrounds the conductor and has a water flow path therein.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic topology and conversion of fusion product energies directly to electric power. Preferably, plasma ions are magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter. Advantageously, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement and energy conversion system include advanced (aneutronic) fuels.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic topology and conversion of fusion product energies directly to electric power. Preferably, plasma ions are magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter. Advantageously, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement and energy conversion system include advanced (aneutronic) fuels.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for reducing plasma loss from the main chamber of a magnetic mirror fusion reactor (MMFR). The MMFR includes a mirror magnet defining a throat region and main chamber magnets defining a main chamber region adjacent the throat region. The present invention generates a field reversed configuration (FRC) inside the MMFR and only between the mirror magnet and the main chamber magnet that is adjacent to the mirror magnet.

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 plasma confining device is provided with a deflection magnetic field device which sets magnetic flux perpendicularly to a central plane of sheet-shaped charged particle flow formed by charged particles which have escaped from a plasma confined by a cusp magnetic field or a mirror magnetic field through the line cusp or linear open end thereof, an edge of the deflection magnetic field being perpendicular to the direction of motion of the sheet-shaped charged particle flow, so that each charged particle, composing the sheet-shaped charged particle flow, is changed in its direction of motion reversely and forced to reenter into the plasma without remarkable loss.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for clearing thermal barrier regions of trapped ions in a tandem mirror fusion reactor apparatus utilizing a bend at each end of the cylindrical plasma chamber within which bend the thermal barrier is positioned. Ions trapped in said thermal barrier are caused by said bend to drift in a direction perpendicular to the incident magnetic field and the direction of centrifugal force, such that said ions are enabled to be collected in a divertor positioned along said ion drift path.

Abstract: A thermonuclear fusion reactor assembly consisting of a plurality of TRISOPS theta pinch units arranged in a parallel configuration inside a common magnetic guide field and provided with a common surrounding FLIBE or other suitable molten metal blanket. The primary magnetic guide field is generated by a superconducting magnet assembly surrounding the container in which the bundle of fusion sticks is mounted. A gas distributing valve mechanism is employed to independently and selectively supply gas and purge same in the respective fusion stick units, and an electrical switching mechanism is employed to similarly independently and selectively energize the fusion stick units in a desired timing pattern.

Abstract: The use of a coaxial plasma gun to produce a plasma ring which is directed into a magnetic field so as to form a field-reversed plasma confined in a magnetic mirror. Plasma thus produced may be used as a target for subsequent neutral beam injection or other similarly produced and projected plasma rings or for direct fusion energy release in a pulsed mode.

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.

Abstract: An Elmo bumpy square (EBS) plasma confinement device is provided by four linear sections formed of a plurality of series connected magnetic mirror confinement segments linked by four 90.degree. sections. Each 90.degree. section is formed of toroidal solenoid-type confinement windings which produce a strong curved solenoidal-type magnet field. Each magnetic mirror segment includes axisymmetric mirror field windings coupled with microwave cavities to form a linear axisymmetric bumpy magnet field, for confinement of a plasma. As in a conventional Elmo bumpy torus, each microwave cavity contains a high-beta, relativistic electron plasma ring which rotates about the confined plasma to provide magnetohydrodynamic stability of the plasma. The electron plasma ring is formed and maintained by microwave heating through the introduction of microwave energy at a specified frequency into each cavity. The 90.degree.

Abstract: Method for producing fusion power wherein a neutral beam is injected into a toroidal bulk plasma to produce fusion reactions during the time permitted by the slowing down of the particles from the injected beam in the bulk plasma.