Multicusp plasma containment apparatus
First Claim
1. Plasma containing apparatus comprising,(a) a container vacuum tight to maintain the plasma pressure,(b) a plasma chamber within said container,(c) said chamber having magnetic multipole ion reflecting walls made up of an array of at least thirty magnetic poles of alternating sign, and(d) means for injecting electrons into said chamber in sufficient quantity to maintain the resulting plasma at a substantial negative potential.
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Accused Products
Abstract
It has been discovered that plasma containment by a chamber having multi-pole magnetic cusp reflecting walls in combination with electronic injection for electrostatic containment provides the means for generating magnetic field free quiescent plasmas for practical application in ion-pumps, electronic switches, and the like. 1250 "Alnico V" magnets 1/2"×1/2"×11/2" provide containment in one embodiment. Electromagnets embodying toroidal funneling extend the principle to fusion apparatus.
113 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Plasma containing apparatus comprising,
(a) a container vacuum tight to maintain the plasma pressure, (b) a plasma chamber within said container, (c) said chamber having magnetic multipole ion reflecting walls made up of an array of at least thirty magnetic poles of alternating sign, and (d) means for injecting electrons into said chamber in sufficient quantity to maintain the resulting plasma at a substantial negative potential.
Specification