Method and apparatus for generating and utilizing a compound plasma configuration

• US 5,041,760 A
• Filed: 02/19/1985
• Issued: 08/20/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul M. Koloc
• Original Assignee: Paul M. Koloc
• Inventors: Koloc, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Behrend, Harvey E.
• Application Number:
  US06/701,808
• Time in Patent Office: 2,373 Days
• Field of Search: 376/100, 376/133, 376/127-130, 376/144-146, 376/121, 313/231.31, 315/111.21, 315/111.41
• US Class Current: 315/111.41
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 37/32009 Arrangements for generation of plasma specially adapted for examination or treatment of objects, e.g. plasma sources plasma generation in general H05H1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/04 using magnetic fields substantially generated by the discharge in the plasma
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/52 using exploding wires or spark gaps H05H1/26 takes precedence; spark gaps in general H01T
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/54 Plasma accelerators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/10 Nuclear fusion reactors

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating and utilizing a compound plasma configuration is disclosed. The plasma configuration includes a central toroidal plasma with electrical currents surrounded by a generally ellipsoidal mantle of ionized particles or electrically conducting matter. The preferred methods of forming this compound plasma configuration include the steps of forming a helical ionized path in a gaseous medium and simultaneously discharging a high potential through the ionized path to produce a helical or heliform current which collapses on itself to produce a toroidal current, or generating a toroidal plasmoid, supplying magnetic energy to the plasmoid, and applying fluid pressure external to the plasmoid. The apparatus of the present invention includes a pressure chamber wherein the compound plasma configuration can be isolated or compressed by fluid or other forms of mechanical or magnetic pressure. A multiple chamber reactor device is also disclosed, as are methods and using apparatuses for rising the compound plasma configuration in a number of diverse situations.

Claims

1. A method of producing a compound plasma configuration in an enclosed region comprising the steps of:

providing a suitable fluid medium in said region;

producing a predetermined electrical environment in at least a portion of said region,

establishing a magnetic field oriented in a particular direction within said region,

producing a current stroke having an electromotive force in said fluid medium; and

inducing said current stroke to follow a generally helical path.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

inducing said current stroke to form a closed loop, thereby forming a generally toroidal closed plasmoid.

3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising the step of:

continuously circulating said fluid mediu for purification.

4. A method as in claim 2, wherein said step of producing a predetermined electrical environment includes the step of:

producing a charge reservoir in at least a portion of said region.

5. A method as in claim 2, wherein said step of producing a predetermined electrical environment includes the step of:

feeding at least one current wave pulse of relativistic charge into at least a portion of said region.

6. A method as in claim 5, further comprising the step of:

creating a current vortex by appropriately directing said current wave pulse.

7. A method as in claim 2, further comprising the step of:

creating a low pressure channel bordered by a layer of ionized particles in said fluid medium prior to said step of inducing said current stroke to form a closed loop.

8. A method as in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

utilizing the electromotive force of said current stroke to induce currents forming a conducting sheath at the interface of said current stroke and said fluid medium surrounding said current stroke;

utilizing existing pressures and forces between said current stroke and said sheath to substantially displace said medium and said sheath from a channel formed by said current stroke, leaving an evacuated magnetic field region in its place;

terminating said current stroke so as to allow portions of said sheath associated with said helical channel section to transform into a mantle by substantially enclosing said evacuated magnetic field region surrounding said forming closed plasmoid and thereby forming said compound plasma configuration.

9. A method as in claim 1 wherein said step of producing includes the step of:

utilizing a plurality of current strokes.

10. A method as in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

utilizing the electromotive force of said current stroke to induce currents forming a conducting sheath at the interface of said current stroke and said fluid medium surrounding said current stroke;

utilizing existing pressures and forces between said current stroke and said sheath to substantially displace said medium and said sheath from a channel formed by said current stroke, leaving an evacuated magnetic field region in its place;

terminating said current stroke so as to allow portions of said sheath associated with said helical channel section to transform into a mantle by substantially enclosing said evacuated magnetic field region surrounding said forming closed plasmoid and thereby forming said compound plasma configuration;

forming said toroidal plasmoid and said mantle of light fushionable nuclear material, said step of forming including the steps of

utilizing a fuel with a high reaction power density in said toroidal plasmoid,

utilizing a fuel of a low ignition point in said mantle,

selecting as said fuel of said mantle a fuel which reacts exothermically with neutrons and other emissions from said toroidal plasmoid, and

inducing vorticity in said current stroke to produce currents of generally helical transform within said toroidal plasmoid.

11. A method as in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

utilizing the electromotive force of said current stroke to induce currents forming a conducting sheath at the interface of said current stroke and said fluid medium surrounding said current stroke;

utilizing existing pressures and forces between said current stroke and said sheath to substantially displace said medium sand said sheath from a channel formed by said current stroke, leaving an evacuated magnetic field region in its place;

terminating said current stroke so as to allow portions of said sheath associated with said helical channel section to transform into a mantle by substantially enclosing said evacuated magnetic field region surrounding said forming closed plasmoid and thereby forming said compound plasma configuration;

forming said toroidal plasmoid and said mantle of light fushionable nuclear material, said step of forming including the steps of

utilizing a fuel with a high reaction power density in said toroidal plasmoid,

utilizing a fuel of a low ignition point in said mantle,

selecting as said fuel of said mantle a fuel which reacts exothermically with neutrons and other emissions from said toroidal plasmoid,

utilizing at least one technique of generating energized particles selected from the group consisting of producing a high voltage pulse, producing an EMF wavefront, injecting charged particle beam current pulses, forming charged particle waves and injecting pulses of ionizing energy.

12. A method as in claim 8, further comprising the steps of

increasing the pressure within said enclosed region so as to effect three dimensional compression of said mantle and said closed plasmoid therein.

13. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

protecting the walls of said enclosed region from radiation and chemical, electromagentic and particle bombardments by injecting an energy absorbing medium between the walls of said compression apparatus and said compound plasma; and

circulating a cooling medium within or over said walls.

14. A method as in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

forming a mantle plasma around said closed plasmoid,

compressing said mantle plasma with non-magnetic energy whereby said closed plasmoid is also compressed.

15. A method as in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

forming a mantle plasma around said closed plasmoid to complete said compound plasma configuration, physically moving said compound plasma configuration to a chamber separated from said region; and

,

reestablishing said fluid medium in said region permitting repetition of said steps for producing a compound plasma.

16. A method as in claim 2 further comprising the step of:

increasing the temperature of said closed plasmoid by self compression heating.

17. Apparatus for generating and utilizing a compound plasmoid, comprising:

a forming chamber,

power supply means coupled to said chamber for producing a current stroke therein;

means associated with said chamber for inducing at least a portion of said current stroke to follow a generally helical path in said atmosphere;

field producing means associated with said chamber for producing a field oriented in a particular direction within said chamber.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17, further comprising:

charge source means associated with said chamber for injecting a quantity of charge into said chamber.

19. An apparatus as in claim 18, where said means for inducing includes:

radiant energy source means associated with said chamber for forming a helical path of reduced breakdown resistance.

20. Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein:

said power supply means includes a voltage source coupled to said chamber, control means coupled to said voltage source and a pair of electrodes coupled to said voltage source and mounted within said chamber, one of said electrodes having a central aperture therein,

said charge source means including a charged particle beam gun aligned with said aperture for directing a charged particle beam through said aperture,

said field producing means includes a coil wound about the exterior of said chamber and oriented such that said particular direction of said field is parallel to said beam gun alignment,

said radiant energy source means includes an optical flash lamp, a power supply coupled to said lamp, an optically transparent window in a wall of said chamber and an optical mirror designed to focus at a central region within said chamber.

21. Apparatus as in claim 19, further comprising:

aperture means coupled to said chamber for permitting energetic particles to escape from said chamber at a controlled rate.

22. Apparatus as in claim 21, wherein said aperture means includes:

control means connected to said aperture means for varying said controlled rate.

23. Apparatus for generating and utilizing a compound plasmoid comprising:

a forming chamber;

power supply means coupled to said chamber for producing a current stroke therein,

means associated with said chamber for inducing said current stroke to follow a generally helical path in said chamber,

detachable high pressure chamber means adapted to be coupled to said forming chamber for receiving compound plasmoids generated in said forming chamber.

24. An apparatus as in claim 23, further comprising:

coolant bath means surrounding said detachable high pressure chamber means.

25. Apparatus for generating and utlizing a compound plasmoid comprising:

a forming chamber;

power supply means coupled to said forming chamber for porducing a current stroke therein,

means associated with said forming chamber for inducing said current stroke to follow a generally helical path in said chamber,

a plurality of compression chamber means coupled to said forming chamber for receiving compound plasmoids formed in said forming chamber.

26. An apparatus as in claim 25, further comprising:

compound plasmoid movement means coupled to said compression chamber means for moving formed plasmoids into said compression chamber means.

27. An apparatus as in claim 26, further comprising:

closure means for isolating said forming chamber from said compression chambers.

28. An apparatus as in claim 27, further comprising:

energy transfer means coupled to said compression chamber means.

29. Apparatus as in claim 25 wherein:

at least one of said plurality of compression chambers is detachable from said forming chamber.

30. Apparatus as in claim 25, further comprising:

aperture means coupled to said compression chamber means for permitting energetic particles to escape at a controlled rate.

31. Apparatus as in claim 30, further comprising:

control means coupled to said aperture means for varying said controlled rate.

32. Apparatus as in claim 28, wherein:

said forming chamber is located to allow direct communication with said compression chamber means,

closure driver means coupled to said closure means for actuating said closure means in a properly timed sequential manner,

compression means coupled to said plurality of compression chamber means for increasing pressure therein; and

,

timer means coupled to said compound plasma movement means for moving compound plasmas in timed sequence into said compression chamber means.

33. Apparatus for generating and utilizing a compound plasmoid comprising:

a forming chamber;

power supply means coupled to said chamber for producing a current stroke therein,

means associated with said chamber for inducing said current stroke to follow a generally helical path in said chamber,

pressure chamber means adapted to be coupled to said forming chamber for receiving compound plasmoids generated in said forming chamber; and

aperture means coupled to said pressure chamber means for permitting energetic particles to escape from said pressure chamber means at a controlled rate.

34. Apparatus as in claim 33, further comprising:

control means coupled to said aperture means for varying said controlled rate.