Plasma control and utilization

Patent · Tue Dec 28 00:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:862734

Ensley, Donald L ^[1]

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1. Danville, CA

A plasma is confined and heated by a microwave field resonant in a cavity excited in a combination of the TE and TM modes while responding to the resonant frequency of the cavity as the plasma dimensions change to maintain operation at resonance. The microwave field is elliptically or circularly polarized as to prevent the electromagnetic confining field from going to zero. A high Q chamber having superconductive walls is employed to minimize wall losses while providing for extraction of thermonuclear energy produced by fusion of nuclei in the plasma.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Energy Research and (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4000036
• OSTI ID: 862734
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

plasma
control
utilization
confined
heated
microwave
field
resonant
cavity
excited
combination
tm
modes
responding
frequency
dimensions
change
maintain
operation
resonance
elliptically
circularly
polarized
prevent
electromagnetic
confining
zero
chamber
superconductive
walls
employed
minimize
wall
losses
providing
extraction
thermonuclear
energy
produced
fusion
nuclei
resonant frequency
energy produced
thermonuclear energy
microwave field
nuclear energy
circularly polarized
conductive walls
wall losses
circularly polarize
tm mode
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