Electron space charge channeling for focusing ion beams

• US 4,434,130 A
• Filed: 11/03/1980
• Issued: 02/28/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Energy Profiles Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Energy Profiles Incorporated
• Inventors: Salisbury, Winfield W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Behrend, Harvey E.
• Application Number:
  US06/203,134
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 376/107, 376/126-130, 376/139-141, 376/144
• US Class Current: 376/107
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 3/006 Fusion by impact, e.g. cluster/beam interaction, ion beam collisions, impact on a target
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/10 Nuclear fusion reactors

Abstract

A fusion reaction system wherein a compressed spiral beam of electrons forms a cylindrical electron sheath and wherein oppositely directed cylindrical beams of fusible ions are projected through said electron sheath and are forced into a common thin cylindrical path located where the potential gradient in electron sheath is minimum.

Claims

1. In a fusion reactor, the combination comprising:

(a) means including coaxial electrodes spaced apart to establish an annular reaction zone with a voltage thereacross to establish a spiral beam of electrons traveling along a common spiral path through an annular reaction zone free from any applied magnetic field to form a cylindrical electron sheath which rotates as a whole about a common sheath axis; and

(b) means to project oppositely directed beams of fusible ions longitudinally through said electron sheath to force ions in both ion beams into linear paths in a common thin cylindrical zone located where the potential gradient in electron sheath is minimum.

2. A system for promotion of nuclear fusion comprising:

(a) means including coaxial electrodes spaced apart with a voltage thereacross to establish an annular reaction zone free from any applied magnetic field with means to maintain a beam of flowing electrons as a cylindrical spiral electron sheath which rotates as a whole about a common sheath axis having a transverse electron distribution such that the potential gradient across said sheath exhibits a minimum within said sheath; and

(b) ion sources for projecting oppositely directed beams of fusible ions through said electron sheath to force the ions in both beams to follow paths where the potential gradient in electron sheath is minimum.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said sheath is cylindrical wherein said electrons flow in spiral paths.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said ions travel in opposite directions along linear paths substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of said electrons.

5. A system for promotion of nuclear fusion comprising:

(a) electrode structure forming boundaries for an annular cylindrical chamber with a voltage thereacross;

(b) means to establish and maintain spiral beam of electrons in said chamber in the form of a cylindrical electron sheath which rotates as a whole about a common sheath axis free from any applied magnetic field; and

(c) means to project oppositely directed beams of fusible ions through said electron sheath in said chamber to force said ions into linear paths where the potential gradient in electron sheath is minimum for enhancing head-on collisions between ions in said oppositely directed beams.

6. A method for promoting fusion of atomic particles which comprises:

(a) establishing an annular reaction zone bounded by coaxial cylindrical walls with a voltage thereacross;

(b) accelerating and focusing a stream of electrons for spiral flow to form a cylindrical electron sheath which rotates as a whole about a common sheath axis free from any applied magnetic field;

(c) projecting high energy ions from a first source along through said sheath in a first direction;

(d) projecting high energy ions from a second source through said sheath in direction opposite to said first direction wherein ions from both sources respond to the electric fields in said sheath to settle into paths at the radius at which the potential gradient in said sheath is minimum.

7. The method of claim 6 whereinsaid electrons emerge from a circular source symmetrical to an axis common to said sheath and wherein said electrons are magnetically deflected and electrostatically focused into spiral paths to form said sheath.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the ratio of the total number of electrons forming said sheath bears a predetermined relation to the ratio of the mass of the electron to the average mass of the ions in said sheath.

9. A method of claim 6 wherein the ratio of the total number of electrons forming said sheath to the total number of ions in said sheath is at least equal to the ratio of the average ion mass to the mass of the electron.

10. A method for promoting fusion of atomic particles which comprises:

(a) establishing a spiral flow of electrons to form a cylindrical electron sheath in an annulus between a pair of coaxial electrodes across which a voltage is applied and which flow rotates as a whole about a common sheath axis free from any applied magnetic field;

(b) projecting high energy ions from a first source through said sheath in a first direction;

(c) projecting high energy ions from a second source through said sheath in direction opposite to said first direction;

(d) the ratio of the total number of electrons forming said sheath to the total number of ions in said sheath being at least equal to the ratio of the average ion mass to the mass of the electron whereby said ions respond to the electric fields in said sheath to settle into paths at a radius in said sheath at which the potential gradient is minimum.

11. In a fusion reactor, the combination comprising:

(a) means including coaxial electrodes spaced apart with a voltage connected between said electrodes to establish an annular reaction zone with means to establish spiral flow of electrons along paths whose locus is a cylinder thereby forming an electron sheath which rotates as a whole about a common sheath axis free from any applied magnetic field; and

(b) means to project oppositely directed beams of fusible ions along substantially linear paths parallel to the length of said cylinder and through said spiral flow to force the ions in both beams into a common thin cylindrical path located where the potential gradient due to said electron flow is minimum.

12. The system according to claim 11 in which the first means establishes spiral flow of electrons is in our direction only.

13. The system according to claim 11 in which the first means establishes spiral flow of electrons in two directions.

14. The system according to claim 13 in which the first means establishes electron flow in one direction at a first radius and in the opposite direction in a second radius slightly different from the first radius.

15. A system for promotion of nuclear fusion comprising:

(a) means including coaxial electrodes spaced apart with a voltage connected between said electrodes to establish an annular reaction zone with means to maintain a spiral flow of electrons to form a cylindrical electron sheath which rotates as a whole about a common sheath axis having radial electron distribution such that the potential gradient across said sheath exhibits a minimum free from any applied magnetic field; and

(b) ion sources for projecting oppositely directed beams of fusible ions along paths whose locus is a cylinder and which paths pass through said electron sheath to force the ions in both beams to follow paths where the potential gradient in electron sheath is minimum.

16. The system of claim 15 in which the means to maintain said spiral flow comprises two sources of electrons, one adjacent to each of said ion sources, and wherein electrons from one of said sources are of velocity different from the velocity of electrons from the other source.