摘要 |
This invention discloses apparatus and methods to produce nuclear fusion utilizing fusible material in the form of high energy ion beams confined in magnetic fields. For example, beams of deuterons and tritons are injected in the same direction relative to the machine axis, but the deuteron velocity is sufficiently greater than the triton velocity so that the deuterons overtake the tritons at a relative velocity which produces a high fusion reaction cross section. The momentum of the deuterons is approximately equal to the momentum of the tritons so that both types of ions follow essentially the same path. Thus, the deuteron and triton beams, together with electrons for space charge neutralization, constitute a "moving-plasma", in which fusion reactions occur. Various alternative magnetic field configurations are described for confinement of the high energy ion beams. Methods are given for the starting and steady-state operation of the invention, based on change-of-charge-state trapping of injected material.
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