Magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma with tuning of electrostatic field

• US 7,119,491 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Rostoker, Norman, Binderbauer, Michl, Tahsiri, Hooshang, Qerushi, Artan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Trinh Vo
• Application Number:
  US11/133,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 315/111.21, 315/111.61, 315/111.81, 315500-507, 376/107, 118/723.FI, 118/723.R
• US Class Current: 315/111.21
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 1/05 with magnetic or electric plasma confinement
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 1/052 reversed field configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 7/00 Arrangements for direct production of electric energy from fusion or fission reactions obtaining electric energy from radioactive sources G21H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/03 using electrostatic fields
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/10 using externally-applied magnetic fields only , e.g. Q-machines, Yin-Yang, base-ball
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/12 wherein the containment vessel forms a closed or nearly closed loop G21B1/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/14 wherein the containment vessel is straight and has magnetic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/16 using externally-applied electric and magnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/00 Energy generation of nuclear origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/10 Nuclear fusion reactors

Abstract

A system and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.

Claims

1. A method of confining a plasma having electrons and ions, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a magnetic field to a confinement structure at a predetermined magnitude,

injecting beams comprising ions into a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic field formed in the confinement structure about a rotating plasma comprising ions and electrons, wherein the beams are injected into the FRC at a predetermined velocity, and

creating an electrostatic field within the confinement structure having a magnitude corresponding to the magnitude of the applied magnetic field.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adjusting the magnitude of the electrostatic field by adjusting the magnitude of the applied magnetic field.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of magnetically confining a plurality of plasma ions within the FRC.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of electrostatically confining a plurality of plasma electrons within the electrostatic field.