Method and apparatus for preventing cyclotron breakdown in partially evacuated waveguide
First Claim
1. A method of preventing cyclotron breakdown in a partially evacuated waveguide used to insert microwave energy for electron cyclotron heating in a plasma magnetic confinement device comprising the steps of, applying a static magnetic field for confining the plasma in said device and applying an electrostatic field in order to remove electrons to prevent ionization of gas molecules and creation of more electron ion pairs in said waveguide.
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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.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A method of preventing cyclotron breakdown in a partially evacuated waveguide used to insert microwave energy for electron cyclotron heating in a plasma magnetic confinement device comprising the steps of, applying a static magnetic field for confining the plasma in said device and applying an electrostatic field in order to remove electrons to prevent ionization of gas molecules and creation of more electron ion pairs in said waveguide.
- 5. In a magnetic plasma confining device including a torroidally shaped vacuum vessel having field coils wound around said vessel in order to generate a static magnetic field for plasma confinement, a waveguide running from the low magnetic field side of said vacuum vessel across a portion wherein cyclotron resonance occurs to the high field side of said vacuum vessel, a launch means positioned at the end of said waveguide to reflect microwave energy back across said vessel into said plasma, and means for applying microwave energy through said waveguide against said launch means, the improvement comprising means for applying a static electric field across a portion of said waveguide in the area crossing said cyclotron resonance whereby seed electrons are removed in order to prevent ionization of gas molecules and creation of more electron ion pairs.
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