Formation of a field reversed configuration for magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma

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 ions 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for confining a plasma of ions and electrons within a chamber comprising the steps of
 magnetically confining a plurality of plasma ions within a magnetic field formed within a chamber and having a field reversed configuration (FRC), and   electrostatically confining a plurality of plasma electrons within an electrostatic field formed within the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of applying a magnetic field to the chamber, and forming a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic field within the chamber about a rotating plasma of ions and electrons. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of injecting ion beams into the FRC. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of generating an electrostatic field within the chamber having a magnitude and polarity that is confining to the plurality of plasma electrons. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of generating an electrostatic field includes the steps of
 applying a magnetic field to the chamber, 
 forming a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic field within the chamber about a rotating plasma of ions and electrons, and 
 injecting neutralized ion beams into the FRC. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of forming an FRC magnetic field comprises the steps of
 injecting ion beams into a background plasma within the reactor chamber and forming a rotating beam plasma, 
 generating a poloidal magnetic self-field about the rotating beam plasma, and 
 increasing the rotating beam plasma's rotational velocity to increase the magnetic self-field's magnitude beyond the applied magnetic field's magnitude causing field reversal internal to the rotating beam plasma and formation of the FRC. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of injecting the ion beams further comprises the steps of
 neutralizing the ion beams, 
 draining the neutralized ion beams' electric polarization, and 
 exerting a Lorentz force due to the magnetic field on the neutralized ion beams to bend the ion beams into betatron orbits. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein step of increasing the rotating beam plasma's rotational velocity includes the step of forming an azimuthal electric field within the chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of forming an azimuthal electric field includes the step of increasing the current running through a betatron flux coil within the chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of tuning the applied magnetic field's magnitude to maintain the rotating beam plasma at a predetermined radial size. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the steps of injecting high energy ion beams into the FRC and trapping the beams in betatron orbits within the FRC. 
     
     
         12 . A method confining a plasma of ions and electrons within a chamber comprising the steps of
 injecting beams comprising a plurality of ions and electrons into a magnetic field having a field reversed configuration (FRC) and formed about a rotating plasma of ions and electrons within a chamber,   magnetically confining a plurality of plasma ions within the FRC in the chamber, and   electrostatically confining a plurality of plasma electrons within an electrostatic field formed with the chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of applying a magnetic field to the chamber and forming the FRC magnetic field within the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the beams are injected at a velocity and the applied magnetic field is applied at a magnitude that causes the formation of an electrostatic field within the chamber that is confining for the plurality of plasma electrons. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of forming an FRC magnetic field comprises the steps of
 injecting ion beams into a background plasma within the reactor chamber and forming a rotating beam plasma, 
 generating a poloidal magnetic self-field about the rotating beam plasma, and 
 increasing the rotating beam plasma's rotational velocity to increase the magnetic self-field's magnitude beyond the applied magnetic field's magnitude causing field reversal internal to the rotating beam plasma and formation of the FRC. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of applying a magnetic field includes energizing a plurality of field coils extending about the chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the ion beams are injected substantially transverse to the applied magnetic field. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of injecting the ion beams further comprises the step of neutrilizing the ion beams. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of adjusting the applied magnetic field's magnitude to maintain the rotating beam plasma at a predetermined radial size. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein step of increasing the rotating beam plasma's rotational velocity includes the step of increasing the current running through a betatron flux coil within the chamber inducing the formation of an azimuthal electric field within the chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the steps of injecting high energy ion beams into the FRC and trapping the beams in betatron orbits within the FRC.