High current ion ring accelerator
First Claim
1. An accelerator structure for accelerating ion rings containing an equal number of positive ions and negative electrons and thereby being charge neutralized, said accelerator structure comprising:
- a plurality of serially arranged accelerator modules for applying a pulsed magnetic field to a charge neutralized ion ring to thereby cause said ring to accelerate, each said accelerator module including means to apply a time varying inductive azimuthal electric field to a charge neutralized ion ring as it passes through each module;
means to synchronize the time varying inductive azimuthal electric field in each accelerator module with the passage of a charge neutralized ion ring through each module so that the magnitude of a transient magnetic field associated with the electric field is at a minimum as an ion ring enters each module, and is at a maximum as an ion ring exits each module; and
,means to apply a static magnetic field to a charge neutralized ion ring to confine it radially as it passes through said plurality of serially arranged accelerator modules;
whereby, the synchronized time varying inductive azimuthal electric field in each accelerator module will cause an incremental increase in energy of a charge neutralized ion ring through compression of the ring in each module, and expansion and acceleration in an axial direction as a ring exits each accelerator module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ion ring accelerator employs a pulsed magnetic field to accelerate a charge neutralized ion ring. The accelerator includes a plurality of accelerator modules arranged either in a linear or a recirculating manner, each of which cause an incremental acceleration of the ion ring. As the ion ring enters one of the accelerator modules, a pulse is applied to a coil or resonant cavity in the module which increases in magnitude and synchronism with the passage of the ion ring. As a result, the ion ring is exposed to an increasing magnetic field in the module which compresses the ring, thereby adiabatically increasing its energy. As the ion ring exits the module and is no longer exposed to the increase in magnetic field, it expands, thereby releasing energy and accelerating in an axial direction. The repetition rate of the high current ion ring accelerator will be determined by the power supplies for the modules.
78 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An accelerator structure for accelerating ion rings containing an equal number of positive ions and negative electrons and thereby being charge neutralized, said accelerator structure comprising:
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a plurality of serially arranged accelerator modules for applying a pulsed magnetic field to a charge neutralized ion ring to thereby cause said ring to accelerate, each said accelerator module including means to apply a time varying inductive azimuthal electric field to a charge neutralized ion ring as it passes through each module; means to synchronize the time varying inductive azimuthal electric field in each accelerator module with the passage of a charge neutralized ion ring through each module so that the magnitude of a transient magnetic field associated with the electric field is at a minimum as an ion ring enters each module, and is at a maximum as an ion ring exits each module; and
,means to apply a static magnetic field to a charge neutralized ion ring to confine it radially as it passes through said plurality of serially arranged accelerator modules; whereby, the synchronized time varying inductive azimuthal electric field in each accelerator module will cause an incremental increase in energy of a charge neutralized ion ring through compression of the ring in each module, and expansion and acceleration in an axial direction as a ring exits each accelerator module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An accelerator structure for accelerating ion rings containing an equal number of positive ions and negative electrons and thereby being charge neutralized, said accelerator structure comprising:
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a) a plurality of serially arranged accelerator modules for applying a pulsed magnetic field to a charge neutralized ion ring to thereby cause said ring to accelerate; and
,b) means in each said accelerator module to apply a time varying inductive azimuthal electric field to a charge neutralized ring as it passes through each module, said means comprising a resonant cavity through which an ion ring is directed and an Rf power supply means for supplying power to said resonant cavity. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method for accelerating ion rings to high energies comprising the steps of:
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a) forming a charge neutralized ion ring having an ion current flowing therethrough, said charge neutralized ion ring having an equal number of electrons and positive ions; b) directing said ion ring through a plurality of serially arranged accelerator modules for periodically applying a time varying inductive azimuthal electric field to said ion ring to increase its energy incrementally; and
,c) increasing the applied electric field in each said accelerator module as the charge neutralized ion ring travels therethrough so that a transient magnetic field associated with the electric field is at a minimum intensity as the ion ring enters each accelerator module, and is at a maximum intensity as the ion ring exits each accelerator module; whereby, the ion ring will be compressed by a time varying magnetic field resulting from said time varying electric field as it travels through each said accelerator module, and then will expand and thereby accelerate as it exits each accelerator module. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification