Fusion energy in an inertial electrostatic confinement device using a magnetically shielded grid

Journal Article · Thu Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4933213· OSTI ID:22486442

Hedditch, John; Bowden-Reid, Richard; Khachan, Joe ^[1]

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1. School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Whales 2006 (Australia)

Theory for a gridded inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) fusion system is presented, which shows a net energy gain is possible if the grid is magnetically shielded from ion impact. A simplified grid geometry is studied, consisting of two negatively biased coaxial current-carrying rings, oriented such that their opposing magnetic fields produce a spindle cusp. Our analysis indicates that better than break-even performance is possible even in a deuterium-deuterium system at bench-top scales. The proposed device has the unusual property that it can avoid both the cusp losses of traditional magnetic fusion systems and the grid losses of traditional IEC configurations.

• OSTI ID: 22486442
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 10; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CUSPED GEOMETRIES
DEUTERON REACTIONS
GRIDS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
IONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC SHIELDING
NET ENERGY
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS