A method for controlling a plasma using a combination of a laser and a rotating magnetic field

Abstract

The present application relates to the collision of deuterium and the production of tritium. Two beams of deuterium plasma are injected into a rotating magnetic field in opposite directions, and two beams of laser are injected in opposite directions as well. The Lorentz force of the magnetic field on the positive and negative charges in the plasma is in opposite directions, and the effect of the laser tail wave field and the fact that the mass of the electron is much smaller than that of the deuterium nucleus cause the electrons to separate from the deuterium nuclei. The deuterium nuclei form ion clusters after separation, and the positive ion (deuterium nucleus) clusters will undergo a Coulomb explosion. Therefore, the deuterium nuclei are accelerated by the super-strong and super-fast laser in an explosive manner, and part of the deuterium nuclei collide to produce tritium nuclei or helium nuclei.

Description

[0001] Technical field: Nuclear fusion.

[0002] Background technology: Current nuclear fusion technology routes include laser inertial confinement, Z-pinch, commercially expensive and long-term tokamak magnetic confinement, stellarator magnetic mirror confinement, and promising FRC and magnetized target nuclear fusion. This invention is a method for controlling plasma to obtain the raw materials required for the polymerization reaction by combining laser and rotating magnetic field (rotating magnetic field formed by electromagnet and / or magnetic field formed by rotating permanent magnet).

[0003] Summary of the invention: A method for controlling plasma (protium and / or deuterium or solid particles or C6D6 targets) by combining high-power laser with a rotating magnetic field (or a stationary magnetic field) to accelerate or collide protium or deuterium nuclei to produce tritium required for fusion reaction.

[0004] Specific implementation plan: 1. The plasma, preheated by microwaves, is bombarded with laser light while simultaneously controlled by a rotating magnetic field. Using a static magnetic field would not achieve the desired effect of increased deflection angle of the incident charged particles. Therefore, this method utilizes a rotating magnetic field as much as possible, and is illustrated using this method as an example. The first method for generating a rotating magnetic field used in this paper involves two bar magnets with cross-shaped (or circular, or star-shaped, etc.) cross-sections rotating longitudinally around the direction of the magnetic field lines inside the magnets, with the axis of rotation passing through the cross intersection. The two magnets rotate in opposite directions, or the N pole of one magnet faces the N pole (or S pole) of the other magnet, rotating in the same direction. Two methods: Using two bar magnets or banana-shaped bar magnets (not back-to-back), rotate laterally around the line connecting the geometric centers of the two magnets. The axis of rotation is perpendicular to the magnetic field lines inside the two magnets. Let the plane passing through the midpoint of the line connecting the geometric centers of the two magnets be the central plane, parallel to the surface formed by the rotating magnets (the cross-section of the cylinder). The two magnets can rotate in the same direction or in opposite directions. Alternatively, an electromagnet can be used to generate the aforementioned rotating magnetic field effect instead of bar magnets. Power is supplied and de-energized to each coil sequentially. Electromagnets do not suffer from the disadvantage of losing magnetism at high temperatures and have the advantage of much stronger magnetic induction than permanent magnets. In methods 1 and 2, an additional coil can be placed around the outer circle of the rotation radius to generate an induced current for recovering the magnetic field.

[0005] 2. When a beam of charged particles is injected perpendicularly into a rotating magnetic field, its trajectory will deflect at a larger angle compared to a stationary magnetic field. If an electromagnet with a high magnetic induction intensity is used, the deflection effect will be even better according to the Lorentz force law. When plasma (protium and / or deuterium targets or solid particle targets) is injected into the plasma from both sides (or on the central surface) of the aforementioned rotating magnetic field in opposite directions, an ultra-intense and ultra-fast laser is also injected to bombard the plasma. Because the Lorentz forces of the magnetic fields (static magnetic field or dynamic magnetic field of methods 1 and 2) on the positive and negative charges in the plasma are opposite in direction, coupled with the effect of the laser wake field and the fact that the electron mass is much smaller than that of deuterium nuclei (small inertia), the electrons separate from the deuterium nuclei. The laser weakens the electrical neutrality of the plasma during the penetration process, and the separated deuterium nuclei form ion clusters (ion vacuoles). These positive ion (deuterium nuclei, etc.) clusters will undergo Coulomb explosions. Therefore, the deuterium nuclei are accelerated by the ultra-intense and ultra-fast laser in an explosive manner, and some deuterium nuclei collide with each other. Lasers (collision lasers with finely adjustable incident angles) are then injected into both sides of the central surface to cause the deuterium nuclei moving in opposite directions on both sides or on the central surface to collide with each other and produce tritium nuclei. When using the reverse rotation (or the same-direction rotation when the linear velocity is greater than the plasma injection velocity) in Method 2, plasma is injected in opposite directions on both sides (or on the central plane) while simultaneously bombarding the plasma with a high-power laser in a chasing manner. At this time, the Lorentz forces experienced by the positive and negative charges in the plasma within the rotating magnetic field are opposite in direction and frequently alternate between centripetal and centrifugal forces (magnetic traps and phase shifts may occur in the rotating magnetic field). Factors such as the laser wake field also cause electrons, whose mass is much smaller than that of deuterium nuclei, to separate from deuterium nuclei. The laser then penetrates... During plasma penetration, energy is transferred to separated electrons and deuterium nuclei under the intervention of a rotating magnetic field. The separated deuterium nuclei form ion clusters and undergo Coulomb explosions, thereby accelerating protium or deuterium nuclei in an explosive manner by the laser. Some protium nuclei and / or deuterium nuclei collide with each other. Lasers (with adjustable incident directions for collision) are then injected at equal angles on both sides of the central plane, causing the non-collisioning deuterium or protium nuclei on either side of or on the central plane to collide and produce tritium nuclei. Adjusting the incident angle of the collision laser can increase the collision probability. Because the Lorentz forces experienced by electrons and deuterium nuclei are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, and their mass difference is large, they tend to separate in both static and dynamic magnetic fields. Separation is achieved with the participation of a strong laser. To improve the directional nature of Coulomb explosions, a pair of positively charged high-voltage electrodes can be added to both sides of the plasma after it is injected (with the negative electrode placed elsewhere), which can also attract some electrons. Directional Coulomb explosions can also be achieved using the magnetic field confinement of a specific coil. Because the Lorentz force between positive and negative charges is opposite and changes frequently, its magnitude also changes frequently, and its duration tends to be extremely short. According to the uncertainty principle, this also increases the probability of quantum tunneling by high-energy particles.Lasers act on non-transparent solid targets starting from the surface, so introducing a highly penetrating magnetic field can also directly plasma-ionize the solid target. The above method involves proton generation and escape, so it can also be used for proton sources. The tritium produced by this method can be used to solve the problem of insufficient tritium self-sufficiency in other fusion pathways, or as a backup solution for lithium-captured neutron tritium production.

[0006] Of course, the above process involves issues such as the acceleration of charges in a magnetic field, the outward emission of energy, and the Zeeman effect, as well as the reabsorption by neighboring particles. However, overall, the energy increase remains significant within a small area. The aforementioned initial plasma energy can also be obtained through methods such as microwave heating with a gyroscope. Plasma can also enter between two magnets via high-voltage introduction. During plasma injection, electromagnetic coils can be used to confine the plasma and increase ion density.

[0007] Under the intervention of a static magnetic field or a rotating magnetic field with N pole to N pole or S pole to S pole, the effect of a strong laser on a non-transparent solid target is to vaporize it from the surface (or directly turn it into plasma). At this time, the superimposed magnetic field with stronger penetration than the laser also has an auxiliary effect on the direct vaporization of non-diamagnetic, non-transparent solid particle targets into plasma. Therefore, the above-mentioned target can also be replaced with non-transparent, non-diamagnetic solid particle targets, carbon nanotube targets containing solid particles, or C6D6 targets for direct plasmaification. Of course, this requires reducing the vacuum requirement in the chamber and also solving the problem that impurities in the chamber will increase the outward radiation energy.

[0008] 3. Magnets must be protected against high-speed rotation and collapse, and subjected to dynamic balancing and neutron damage prevention. They also require heat insulation, cooling, and vaporization prevention measures. If electromagnets are used, corresponding protective measures must also be implemented. The generated tritium nuclei emit radiation, requiring appropriate protective measures. When the laser power is sufficiently high, the aforementioned collisions of protium or deuterium nuclei can also occur by having two laser beams, either incident in a static magnetic field or at the center of a dynamic magnetic field, bombard the plasma in a counter-current manner, causing a Coulomb explosion and resulting in collisions between protium and deuterium nuclei.

[0009] Beneficial effects: The laser-superimposed rotating magnetic field enhances the Coulomb explosion effect in the plasma. The continuity of target feeding is less challenging. This method does not require a high degree of vacuum in the chamber, nor does it demand high stress balance in all directions on the solid target. The Coulomb explosion-induced collisions of deuterium nuclei and / or protium nuclei do not require high precision.

Claims

1. A method for controlling plasma using a combination of laser and magnetic field, characterized in that: While bombarding the plasma with a laser, a magnetic field is used to accelerate protium nuclei and / or deuterium nuclei in the form of Coulomb explosions, and corresponding collisions occur, producing tritium.

2. According to claim 1, while bombarding the plasma with a laser, a rotating magnetic field is used to accelerate deuterium nuclei and / or protium nuclei in the form of a Coulomb explosion, and at the same time, corresponding collisions occur and tritium is generated.

3. A method for controlling plasma using a combination of laser and magnetic field, characterized in that: By combining lasers and rotating magnetic fields to control plasma, and adding a pair of positively charged electrodes, a better directional Coulomb explosion can be achieved.

4. A method for directly plasma-enhancing a solid particle target using a combination of laser and magnetic field, characterized in that: While the laser bombards the solid particle target, a rotating magnetic field is used to directly plasmaify the target material, and the corresponding particles also undergo Coulomb explosions.