Systems and methods for compressing plasma
First Claim
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1. A method of compressing a plasma, the method comprising:
- generating a toroidal plasma;
accelerating the toroidal plasma along a longitudinal direction;
introducing the accelerated toroidal plasma into a passage in a liquid funnel, the passage having a first size at a first end of the passage and a second size at a second end of the passage, the second size smaller than the first size;
introducing a liquid guide substantially along an axis of the passage in the liquid funnel; and
compressing the toroidal plasma as the toroidal plasma moves from the first end of the passage toward the second end of the passage,wherein compressing the toroidal plasma comprises compressing the toroidal plasma between an inner surface of the passage in the liquid funnel and an outer surface of the liquid guide.
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Abstract
Embodiments of systems and methods for compressing plasma are described in which plasma pressures above the breaking point of solid material can be achieved by injecting a plasma into a funnel of liquid metal in which the plasma is compressed and/or heated.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of compressing a plasma, the method comprising:
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generating a toroidal plasma; accelerating the toroidal plasma along a longitudinal direction; introducing the accelerated toroidal plasma into a passage in a liquid funnel, the passage having a first size at a first end of the passage and a second size at a second end of the passage, the second size smaller than the first size; introducing a liquid guide substantially along an axis of the passage in the liquid funnel; and compressing the toroidal plasma as the toroidal plasma moves from the first end of the passage toward the second end of the passage, wherein compressing the toroidal plasma comprises compressing the toroidal plasma between an inner surface of the passage in the liquid funnel and an outer surface of the liquid guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of compressing a plasma, the method comprising:
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generating a toroidal plasma; accelerating the toroidal plasma along a longitudinal direction; introducing the accelerated toroidal plasma into a passage in a liquid funnel, the passage having a first size at a first end of the passage and a second size at a second end of the passage, the second size smaller than the first size; introducing a liquid guide substantially along an axis of the passage in the liquid funnel; electrically isolating the liquid guide from the liquid funnel when the toroidal plasma is between the first end and the second end of the passage in the liquid funnel; and compressing the toroidal plasma as the toroidal plasma moves from the first end of the passage toward the second end of the passage. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification