Apparatus for magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma
First Claim
1. An apparatus for containing plasma comprisinga generally cylindrical chamber,a first means for creating a magnetic field within the chamber having a field reserved topology,a second means for creating an electrostatic well within the chamber, anda third means for injecting plasma into the chamber.
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Abstract
An apparatus 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 ions 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.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for containing plasma comprising
a generally cylindrical chamber, a first means for creating a magnetic field within the chamber having a field reserved topology, a second means for creating an electrostatic well within the chamber, and a third means for injecting plasma into the chamber.
Specification