NEUTRON SOURCE USING MAGNETIC COMPRESSION OF PLASMA
A fusion reactor is described that utilizes compression and heating of an ionized thermonuclear fuel by an externally applied magnetic field, thus avoiding reliance on the pinch effect and its associated instability problems. The device consists of a gas-confining ceramic container surrounded by a single circumferential coil having a shape such as to produce a magnetic mirror geometry. A sinusoidally-oscillating, exponentially-damped current is passed circumferentially around the container, through the coil, inducing a circumferential current in the gas. Maximum compression and plasma temperature are obtained at the peak of the current oscillations, coinciding with maximum magnetic field intensity. Enhanced temperatures are obtained in the second and succeeding half cycles because the thermal energy accumulates from one half cycle to the next. (AEC)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-031763
- Assignee:
- U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
- Patent Number(s):
- US 3006835
- OSTI ID:
- 4836875
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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