GB865082A - Thermonuclear injection process and injector - Google Patents

Abstract

865,082. Nuclear fusion reactors; discharge apparatus. UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION. April 1, 1959 [April 22, 1958], No. 10990/59. Classes 39(1) and 39(4). Apparatus for increasing the energy of charged particles comprises an evacuated chamber, means for establishing within the chamber an axially symmetrical radially inhomogeneous magnetic field having axially spaced reflector field regions, means for increasing the intensity of the field, and means for producing a ring of charged particles coaxially of the magnetic field and at a median plane between the reflector field regions so that the energy of the charged particles is increased in spiraling inwardly to the central axial region of the field. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 5 comprises a pair of coils 29, 31 and a plasma source 52 arranged within an evacuated container. The coils are connected in series through a switch to a charged condenser; when the condenser is allowed to discharge through the coils to produce a sinusoidal current through them, the magnetic field is initially inhomogeneous and heats the plasma non- adiabatically, and subsequently becomes homogeneous and compresses and heats the plasma adiabatically. The coils may be provided with pole-pieces (Fig. 6, not shown) to increase the initial inhomogeneity of the field. The plasma source, Fig. 7, may comprise a number of titanium rings 56 attached to an insulating member 53 and connected to a resistance chain (not shown). The titanium rings are loaded with deuterium or tritium which is evolved from the rings when an arc is established between them. Diametrically opposed rings 62, 63 are connected to an external charged delay line (not shown) and trigger electrodes 59, 61 are provided on either side of the ring 62. When the trigger electrodes are energized an arc is struck between them and ring 62, which evolves gas, and arcs are struck successively between the rings on either side of ring 62 and maintained until the delay line is discharged. In a modification of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5 two further coils are arranged inside coils 29, 31 and are arranged to compress the plasma adiabatically after its initial heating and compression by coils 29, 31 (Fig. 9, not shown). In another modification (Fig. 10, not shown) a further magnetic compression chamber is connected axially to the apparatus of Fig. 5 and plasma is transferred to it by short-circuiting coil 31.