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Title: Magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma with tuning of electrostatic field

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.

Inventors:
; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1175676
Patent Number(s):
7015646
Application Number:
10/328,701
Assignee:
Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21B - FUSION REACTORS
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21D - NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY

Citation Formats

Rostoker, Norman, Binderbauer, Michl, Qerushi, Artan, and Tahsiri, Hooshang. Magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma with tuning of electrostatic field. United States: N. p., 2006. Web.
Rostoker, Norman, Binderbauer, Michl, Qerushi, Artan, & Tahsiri, Hooshang. Magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma with tuning of electrostatic field. United States.
Rostoker, Norman, Binderbauer, Michl, Qerushi, Artan, and Tahsiri, Hooshang. Tue . "Magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma with tuning of electrostatic field". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1175676.
@article{osti_1175676,
title = {Magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma with tuning of electrostatic field},
author = {Rostoker, Norman and Binderbauer, Michl and Qerushi, Artan and Tahsiri, Hooshang},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2006},
month = {3}
}

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