Plasma generation device and plasma generation method

Abstract

To provide a nuclear fusion reaction generating device capable of achieving a high temperature of approximately 108K.SOLUTION: A nuclear fusion reaction generating device 1 includes: at least one pair of electrodes 3, 3 which apply a potential difference to an insulating liquid containing heavy water; a DC power supply 5 connected to the pair of electrodes 3, 3; and a plurality of conductive carbon nanotubes 4 dispersed in the liquid. Each carbon nanotube 4 has a diameter of approximately 10 nm and a length of approximately 3 mm. A distance between electrodes 3,3 is 1 cm. A potential difference between electrodes 3,3 is 100 kV.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a nuclear fusion reaction generator, a plasma generator, a nuclear fusion reaction method, and a plasma generation method.

Background Art

[0002] The necessary conditions for a nuclear fusion reaction are a temperature of about 10 8 K, a sufficient density, and a sufficient confinement time. Generally, the problems are the large energy / work rate required for generating high temperature and the confinement of the resulting ultra-high pressure.

[0003] When the fuel plasma is heated to 10 8 K, the pressure proportional to the temperature increases, and if it is not confined, it expands and the reaction rate decreases (for example, even an explosive can only reach a temperature of about 10 3 K (at most about 5000K), while the nuclear fusion plasma can reach 10 8 K, which is 10 5 times that). At high temperatures, high-energy thermal radiation is emitted and it cools rapidly. This is because, according to the Stefan-Boltzmann law, a black body emits thermal radiation of energy proportional to T 4 . At high temperatures, the radiation is particularly strong, so that even the sun with a central temperature of 16 million K has a temperature near the surface that can be regarded as a black body of about 6000K. At 10 8 K, it would emit more than 10 16 times the energy per unit area of the sun's surface, which is unrealistic. However, generally, since the optical depth of the plasma on the ground is small, although it does not reach such intensity, it emits thermal radiation (X-rays at high temperatures) corresponding to the temperature and cools rapidly. Therefore, it is not possible to heat for too long a time, and it is necessary to reduce the optical depth of the plasma as much as possible.

[0004] To heat 1 g of heavy water fuel to 10 8 K in 1 second, it requires ~10 9 J, ~10 9An energy work rate of W level is required, but it is not realistic. If DC power is used, the work rate is insufficient even at the level of the Sakuma frequency conversion station, which is the strongest DC power source in Japan. If a pulse power source is used, the work rate can be achieved, but it is difficult to reach the above energy amount. Moreover, at a practical energy multiplication factor, the output will be comparable to that of a normal bomb at its maximum. Therefore, a method of intensively heating a small amount of fuel is essential for nuclear fusion ignition.

[0005] To maintain the density and advance the nuclear fusion reaction, some kind of confinement method is required. Depending on the method, it is necessary to confine pressures that can easily compress liquids and solids and even make ceramics behave like liquids. As confinement methods, magnetic confinement and inertial confinement are being variously studied.

[0006] In magnetic confinement, a small amount of fuel is intensively heated by heating a dilute plasma (at a density that can be confined by a magnetic field) in a vacuum.

[0007] 10 8 To heat the plasma up to 10 K, a potential difference of about 10 kV is sufficient. However, since the plasma is dilute, it is necessary to confine it for a relatively long time.

[0008] Basically, the plasma is treated as a particle beam, but since the actual plasma is a multi-system and a fluid (its behavior is chaotic), at present, the plasma cannot be confined as desired.

[0009] Also, it is difficult to reheat the plasma confined in space. High-power neutral particle beams and resonant microwaves, which are often used, are difficult to generate efficiently and stably.

[0010] In the inertial confinement method, a small fuel pellet is intensively heated by irradiating it with high-energy lasers from all directions.

[0011] When the outer shell heated to a high temperature rapidly expands, the central part of the fuel is compressed to a high pressure of 10 TPa (implosion), and is heated up to 10 8 K by adiabatic compression to initiate a fusion reaction. Since confinement is due to the inertia of the fuel with a small mass, everything has to be completed in an extremely short time.

[0012] However, it is difficult to uniformly heat and compress the fuel sphere. This is because it is essentially difficult to ensure uniformity due to hydrodynamic instability. In this method, not only the fuel has to be confined but also actively compressed, so there is also a problem that the growth of instability is fast and the fuel sphere shell is likely to break.

[0013] And when igniting with a laser, the low conversion efficiency from power to laser becomes a problem. It is not simply a matter of generating a laser. Since high energy has to be packed in an extremely short time using techniques such as chirped pulse compression, the energy efficiency will inevitably be low.

[0014] For a single-shot laser, that's one thing, but in order to continuously sustain the reaction, it is necessary to solve various problems (such as the lifetime of the laser oscillator, the influence of substances accumulating in the furnace, etc.).

[0015] Also, a common problem in conventional confinement methods is that neutron rays and X-rays directly irradiate the furnace wall and cause damage. Therefore, it is necessary to take appropriate measures for heat removal and against embrittlement and activation. Methods using superconducting magnets can be particularly delicate problems (for example, heating of the refrigerant by neutron rays is a problem), and using a blanket brings about maintenance costs due to replacement, an increase in low-level radioactive waste, and irreversible consumption due to nuclear modification of relatively scarce resources such as lithium.

[0016] There is also the problem that the procurement and handling of tritium become difficult. Since the D-T reaction has the mildest fusion reaction conditions, it is necessary to handle relatively large amounts of tritium, which is rare and a radioactive substance.

[0017] Patent Document 1 discloses that 1000 carbon nanotubes with a length of about 3 mm are connected in parallel between electrodes, and a voltage is applied pulsatively to perform nuclear conversion inside the confined system of the carbon nanotubes.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0018]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0019] However, in Patent Document 1, a pulse voltage of 200 V for 200 nanoseconds is applied to 1000 carbon nanotubes with a total resistance of 200 Ω at a frequency of 10 kHz (

[0070] ). By dividing 200 W for 200 nanoseconds, that is, 40000 nanojoules, among 1000 tubes, 40 nanojoules are applied per pulse per tube. The weight of one nanotube is on the order of 10 -12 g, so per gram it is 40000 J. Since the specific heat of graphite is about 2 J / g·K, as a result, the calculated temperature rise is on the order of 10000 K. Considering heat dissipation to the surroundings during heating and the influence of the pulse shape, etc., it is expected to stay at a temperature not exceeding 4000 K. Since the pulse voltage is 10 kHz, there is a non-application period of about 100 microseconds. During this period, it is considered that the nanotubes cool down and the heat insulation layer collapses, etc., and the overall design is such that the carbon nanotubes will not be destroyed.

[0020] Thus, in Patent Document 1, it is considered that the reaching temperature does not exceed 4000 K, and it is not possible to achieve a high temperature of about 10 8 K required for nuclear fusion reaction.

[0021] This disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and 10 8An object of the present invention is to provide a nuclear fusion reaction generating device, a plasma generating device, a nuclear fusion reaction generating method, and a plasma generating method that can achieve a high temperature of the order of K.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0022] A nuclear fusion reaction generating device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes at least a pair of electrodes that apply a potential difference to an insulating medium containing a nuclear fusion fuel, a power source connected to the pair of electrodes, and a plurality of nanostructured materials having conductivity dispersed in the medium. Each of the nanostructured materials has a diameter of 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less, a length of 0.5 mm or more and 100 mm or less, the distance between the electrodes is 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less, and the potential difference is 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less.

[0023] When power is supplied from a power source to apply a potential difference between a pair of electrodes, at least one conductive path is formed from one electrode to the other electrode among the plurality of nanostructured materials dispersed in the medium. Since the distance between the electrodes is 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less and the potential difference is 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less, sufficient energy for generating plasma is given to the formed conductive path. As a result, the conductive path formed by the nanostructured material forms a plasma filament and can generate plasma. Thereby, a high temperature of the order of 10 8 K can be realized. And since the medium contains a nuclear fusion fuel (for example, heavy water, tritium, hydrocarbon, etc.), it can be used as a fuel for a nuclear fusion reaction, and a nuclear fusion reaction can be generated. As the nanostructured material, for example, nanotubes such as carbon nanotubes, nanowires such as copper nanowires, nanocoils, graphene nanoribbons, conductive polymers, etc. can be used.

[0024] A plasma generation device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes at least a pair of electrodes that apply a potential difference to an insulating medium, a power source connected to the pair of electrodes, and a plurality of conductive nanostructured materials dispersed in the medium. Each of the nanostructured materials has a diameter of 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less, a length of 0.5 mm or more and 100 mm or less, the distance between the electrodes is 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less, and the potential difference is 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less.

[0025] When power is supplied from the power source to apply a potential difference between the pair of electrodes, at least one conductive path is formed from one electrode to the other among the plurality of nanostructured materials dispersed in the medium. Since the distance between the electrodes is 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less and the potential difference is 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less, sufficient energy for generating plasma is applied to the formed conductive path. As a result, the conductive path formed by the nanostructured materials forms a plasma filament and can generate plasma. Thereby, a high temperature of about 10 8 K can be realized. As the nanostructured material, for example, nanotubes such as carbon nanotubes, nanowires such as copper nanowires, nano coils, graphene nanoribbons, conductive polymers, etc. can be used.

[0026] A method for generating a fusion reaction according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a method for generating a fusion reaction using at least a pair of electrodes that apply a potential difference to an insulating medium containing a fusion fuel, a power source connected to the pair of electrodes, and a plurality of conductive nanostructured materials dispersed in the medium. Each of the nanostructured materials has a diameter of 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less, a length of 0.5 mm or more and 100 mm or less, the distance between the electrodes is 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less, and the potential difference is 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less.

[0027] A plasma generation method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a plasma generation method performed using at least a pair of electrodes that apply a potential difference to an insulating medium, a power source connected to the pair of electrodes, and a plurality of conductive nanostructured materials dispersed in the medium. Each of the nanostructured materials has a diameter of 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less, a length of 0.5 mm or more and 100 mm or less, the distance between the electrodes is 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less, and the potential difference is 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less.

Advantages of the Invention

[0028] 10 8 It is possible to realize a high temperature of about 10 K.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described. The nuclear fusion reaction generation device according to the present embodiment reduces the amount and spatial size of the fuel to be heated to the limit at the time of ignition. As a result, by heating only about 10 times the amount and spatial fuel of inertial nuclear fusion, rapid heating can be realized at a realistic work rate. -6 By heating only about 10 times the amount and spatial fuel of inertial nuclear fusion, rapid heating can be realized at a realistic work rate.

[0031] A high voltage that does not cause overall dielectric breakdown is applied to a liquid (medium) having insulating properties as a nuclear fusion fuel (for example, heavy water, tritium, hydrocarbon, etc.: hereinafter simply referred to as "fuel") in which a conductive micro-long nanostructured material (typically having a diameter of about several tens of nanometers) is dispersed. As the nanostructured material, for example, nanotubes such as carbon nanotubes, nanowires such as copper nanowires, nanocoils, graphene nanoribbons, conductive polymers, etc. can be used.

[0032] Due to partial dielectric breakdown, current flows through the nanostructured material. If a sufficiently high potential gradient is applied, even when the temperature reaches a level at which the nanostructured material would normally break, the current continues to flow due to self-inductance, and fine plasma filaments are generated in the fuel by phase transition. Since plasma is a good conductor, current is passed through it for heating (Joule heating, an energy concentration method similar to the filaments of an incandescent bulb or heating wires), and cations are heated by lowering the electromagnetic potential toward the negative electrode side.

[0033] In nuclear fusion, the Sandia National Laboratories in the United States is conducting experiments on applying a high voltage to a metal wire (with a diameter of about 0.1 mm) in the Z machine to turn it into plasma. In contrast, in this embodiment, plasma filaments that are about 10 times smaller in diameter and about 10 times smaller in cross-sectional area will be generated. Since plasma becomes high pressure due to temperature increase and thus quickly diffuses, and also because it is in contact with the liquid, it is considered that heat quickly diffuses. However, it can continue to exist like plasma in the liquid. -3 about -6 about

[0034] The following selectivities occur in the plasma filaments. (1) Selectivity of conduction Since plasma is a good conductor while the surrounding non-ionized fuel is an insulator, only the plasma part is selectively Joule heated.

[0035] (2) Selectivity of confinement The plasma part is confined by the magnetic field generated by the Ampere's law due to the flowing current (magnetic confinement, Z-pinch). On the other hand, since the confinement force does not act on the non-ionized fuel, the heated and high-pressure but non-ionized fuel separates the plasma from the surrounding fuel, making it difficult for the heat of the plasma to diffuse to the surroundings (e.g., film boiling or burnout). Also, the small surface area of the plasma is a factor that delays heat diffusion.

[0036] The energy required to heat the plasma filament until the above-mentioned fusion plasma is generated is small. This is because the amount of substance contained in the plasma filament is small. Assuming that the surrounding fuel is taken in during heating and it becomes a plasma filament with a thickness of 100 nm (=10 -5 cm) and a length of 1 cm, the amount of substance is only about 10 -10 g.

[0037] As a confinement force for the plasma, especially at high temperatures, the radiation pressure due to thermal radiation is also important. This is because the surface area of the plasma is small, so the radiation pressure proportional to the energy density of the radiation becomes larger than that of the conventional method.

[0038] However, the ionized region and the non-ionized region are not clearly separated. At a certain temperature, since individual particles have various velocities following the Maxwell distribution, at around 5000 K to 20000 K, ionized particles and non-ionized particles are mixed (Saha ionization formula). Since the ionization degree determines the electrical resistance, a region where the current becomes difficult to flow is generated as it approaches the peripheral part. Although Joule heating also occurs in this region, since a force that pulls the ionized particles into the plasma filament acts on the ionized particles due to the Lorentz force, only high-energy particles are extracted in the peripheral region, resulting in cooling, and heat dissipation is prevented. For partially ionized atoms such as carbon and oxygen, as a result, the higher the temperature and the ionization degree, the stronger the confinement force acts (if completely ionized, almost the same confinement force as that of deuterium acts).

[0039] The surrounding fuel is heated by the plasma filaments to form a temperature gradient. When a temperature gradient is formed in a state of constant density, a pressure gradient occurs, resulting in a particle flow in the direction away from the plasma filaments. Therefore, the likelihood of the surrounding cold fuel affecting the plasma filaments against this flow is reduced. When pressure equilibrium is established as a result of the flow, the particle density will be inversely proportional to the temperature.

[0040] Although a confinement force acts on the plasma filaments, it is generally difficult to stably confine them for a long time. Due to hydrodynamic instabilities such as kink instability and the magnitude of fluctuations due to the mesoscopic region, the plasma filaments will take on a complex shape. Also, if too much time is spent on heating, the plasma filaments will take in the surrounding fuel and thicken, allowing a larger current to flow and increasing the load on the power supply. Therefore, in order to reduce radiation loss, it is better to heat at a certain high speed.

[0041] Since the heat generation rate of the plasma filaments is determined by the magnitude of the potential gradient, a large heat generation rate can be achieved even if the absolute applied voltage is not large, as long as the distance between the electrodes is small (for example, an energy concentration method similar to a spark plug). In this embodiment, if a readily available DC power supply is used with a voltage of 100 kV and the distance between the electrodes is 1 cm, it will be 10 MV / m, which is close to the dielectric strength of water. Also, under these conditions, if deuterium ions move several millimeters to the negative electrode side, sufficient energy will be provided to cause a nuclear fusion reaction. For carbon ions and oxygen ions, sufficient energy will be provided with an even shorter movement distance.

[0042] The instability of the plasma filaments is also positive for nuclear fusion ignition. Since nanotubes and nanowires have a large L / D ratio (aspect ratio), plasma with various shapes and situations will be generated due to instability over the entire length of the plasma filaments. Therefore, the probability that not even a single self-igniting plasma will occur when the current stops flowing is low, and the generation of self-igniting plasma with a high probability can be expected.

[0043] Since the amount of the substance to be heated is small, it is not practical if only the heated fuel undergoes a fusion reaction. If the plasma filament is heated sufficiently, there is a probability that a self-ignition region (a region where the energy generated internally by nuclear fusion is greater than the energy dissipated outside by radiation or the like) will occur even after the current is cut off. Once the self-ignition region occurs, since the surroundings are surrounded by fuel with a liquid density, the self-ignition region begins to expand mainly due to alpha rays from the fusion plasma. This expansion continues until the surrounding fuel is blown away and sufficiently decompressed (inertial confinement). Although the plasma generated by heating has an extremely high pressure, its mass is far smaller than that of the surrounding cold fuel, so it cannot be easily decompressed. This situation is similar to the detonation of explosives.

[0044] On the other hand, in this embodiment, there is no strong restriction on arranging an object around the fuel (different from laser fusion, etc.). Therefore, a tamper can be arranged around the fuel for the purpose of delaying decompression, extending the duration of the fusion reaction, etc. The tamper is heated by neutron rays or the like, and the plasma is compressed by the reaction of scattering around, and the time until decompression can be extended.

[0045] The tamper has the roles of confining the fusion plasma by inertia, absorbing neutron rays and X-rays radiated from the fusion plasma to protect the furnace wall, and serving as a buffer to convert the ultra-high temperature of the fusion plasma into a temperature that is easy to handle for power generation. Therefore, it is desirable that it is a fluid that absorbs neutron rays and X-rays (for example, a combination of molten metal and water, water with heavy metals dispersed, etc.).

[0046] Regarding the density of the fuel, if the fuel density is high, the dissipation of heat during heating increases, but a large inertia can be obtained after heating. On the other hand, if the fuel density is low, the dissipation of heat during heating can be reduced, but the inertia acting after heating becomes small. If the fuel is made into a supercritical fluid, etc., the fuel density can be arbitrarily controlled from a state where the nanostructured material is dispersed at a density equal to or higher than the liquid density to a state where the nanostructured material floats at a density lower than that of the atmosphere. Therefore, ignition can be achieved by adjusting to a density suitable for the purpose. The fuel density may be changed during heating. For example, it is also possible to start the electric heating in a water vapor atmosphere first and then let cold water flow in during the electric heating.

[0047] Note that the waveform of the voltage applied to the fuel may be direct current, alternating current, or alternating current biased by direct current, or other waveforms customized for ignition. This waveform is considered to determine the fuel intake characteristics into the plasma filament.

[0048] By adjusting the dispersion density of the nanostructured material and the contact area of the electrode with the fuel, the number of simultaneously generated conduction paths can be adjusted. If there are few conduction paths, heating to a higher temperature can be achieved by the concentration of energy. If there are many conduction paths, the pinch force causes the conduction paths to attract each other, so the fuel can be confined more strongly. Note that the distance between the opposing electrodes may be larger than the size of a single carbon nanotube.

[0049] When adopting carbon nanotubes, fuel (such as deuterium, heavy water, hydrocarbon) may be placed inside the tube, or a substituent containing fuel may be bonded. Tritium or lithium may be used as an ignition aid for this. These are particularly effective means when the fuel density is low.

[0050] Carbon nanotubes with a diameter of about 10 nm are easily obtained. Also, due to their material and size, the X-ray absorption rate is extremely low and the optical depth is small, and according to Kirchhoff's law, the emissivity is also low, so there is an advantage of less radiation loss. On the other hand, metal nanowires have the advantage of being easily heated due to their high charge density.

[0051] The ignition situation may be controlled by the degree of dispersion of the nanostructured material. An ignition strategy can be adopted in which the degree of dispersion is intentionally reduced and the current is passed through in a state where a plurality of nanostructured materials are entangled, so as to produce a more diverse plasma-fuel arrangement.

[0052] As the fuel, it is preferable to use liquid deuterium in order to increase the effective density and the reaction probability. On the other hand, using heavy water or hydrocarbon has the merit of mixing oxygen ions and carbon ions. First, the density is large and it can be confined with a larger inertia. Also, when the ions are fully ionized, deuterium ions, oxygen ions, and carbon ions have similar specific charges, so they behave electromagnetically in the same way and move along the same trajectory during energization. However, when the current stops and the thermal behavior begins, the oxygen ions reach a temperature eight times higher and the carbon ions reach a temperature six times higher than that of the deuterium ions. Since the diffusion rate is higher at higher temperatures, when released from confinement by the pinch force, first the oxygen ions and carbon ions spread and the deuterium ions are thermally insulated and heated, promoting the fusion reaction (this is also related to the Soret effect).

[0053] [Example] One example of the above-described embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of a fusion reaction generator 1 according to one example of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the fusion reaction generator 1, a pair of electrodes 3, 3 are provided to apply a potential difference to an insulating liquid 2. The electrodes 3, 3 are made of metal, for example, and the distance between the electrodes 3, 3 is set to 1 cm. The distance between the electrodes 3, 3 is set to be larger than the size of a single carbon nanotube 4.

[0054] A DC power supply (power supply) 5 is electrically connected to each of the electrodes 3, 3 via a switch 6. The DC power supply 5 is capable of applying a voltage of 100 kV to the electrodes 3, 3. Therefore, the electric field strength applied to the liquid 2 is 10 MV / m.

[0055] Liquid 2 has insulation properties and is water containing heavy water. A large number of carbon nanotubes 4 are dispersed in Liquid 2. The diameter of the carbon nanotubes 4 is about 10 nm and the length is about 3 mm.

[0056] The switch 6 is controlled to turn on and off by a control unit. The control unit is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a computer-readable storage medium, etc. And a series of processes for realizing various functions are stored in a storage medium or the like in the form of a program as an example. The CPU reads this program into the RAM or the like and executes information processing and arithmetic processing, thereby realizing various functions. Note that the program may be in a form pre-installed in the ROM or other storage media, in a form provided in a state stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or in a form distributed via wired or wireless communication means. A computer-readable storage medium is a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, etc.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, when the switch 6 is turned on by a command from the control unit, a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes 3, 3, and an electric field strength of 10 MV / m is applied to the liquid 2. As shown in FIG. 2, since the carbon nanotubes 4 are dispersed in the liquid 2, the ends of each carbon nanotube 4 are sufficiently close to the ends of other nanotubes or the electrode 3 with a certain probability. Then, dielectric breakdown occurs in the gap between the ends of the carbon nanotubes 4 or between the ends of the carbon nanotubes 4 and the electrodes 3, 3, and a current I flows. Since the dielectric strength of pure water is about 60 MV / m, no current flows in other parts. The flowing current I is constant anywhere in the conduction path. In the part of the carbon nanotubes 4, since it passes through a narrow region on the order of 10 nm in diameter, the current density is high, and as a result, the energy density and the magnetic field strength become high.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a simplified calculation model of FIGS. 1 and 2. For the sake of simplicity in calculation, consider a model in which a plurality of carbon nanotubes 4 are connected in series in a series between electrodes 3, 3.

[0059] The volume of a series of carbon nanotubes is 1×10 -6 ×10 -6 =10 -12 (cm 3 ). For reference, the filament of an incandescent lamp is 1×10 -2 ×10 -2 =10 -4 (cm 3 ). If the particle density of the carbon nanotubes and the incandescent lamp filament is about the same (the particle density of solids does not differ much), when the same power is injected, the energy received by one particle of the carbon nanotubes is 10 8 times that of the incandescent lamp filament, enabling high-speed heating.

[0060] If the carbon nanotubes have a density comparable to that of graphite, the mass of 10 -12 cm 3 of carbon nanotubes is 2.2×10 -12 g. The specific heat at constant pressure of the plasma is about 100 J / g·K at 20000 K (literature value: from Fig. 6 of https: / / www.jstage.jst.go.jp / article / jjtp1987 / 4 / 1 / 4_1_3 / _pdf / -char / ja), so the energy required to heat this carbon nanotube to 10 8 K is on the order of 10 -2 J. Therefore, if the voltage is 100 kV, this energy can be sufficiently injected.

[0061] Next, examine the factors that would prevent heating up to 10 8 K by the nuclear fusion reaction generator according to this embodiment. It is conceivable that the current will be interrupted particularly when the nanotubes evaporate during heating. However, it can be said that the current will not be interrupted due to self-inductance. Also, as an example where carbon vapor does not prevent conduction, there is a carbon arc clamp. It is conceivable that the thickness of the generated plasma increases rapidly and exceeds the power supply capacity before sufficient energy is injected. However, since the surface area of the plasma is small and heat does not easily flow, and a heat insulation layer is formed by non-ionized gas, the plasma does not become thick and does not exceed the power supply capacity. Such a phenomenon where the thickness of the plasma increases rapidly has not been confirmed even in actual underwater plasma.

[0062] The functions and effects of the present embodiment described above are as follows. When power is supplied from a power source to apply a potential difference between a pair of electrodes, at least one conductive path is formed from one electrode to the other electrode among the plurality of nanostructured materials dispersed in the liquid. Since the distance between the electrodes is about 1 cm and the potential difference is about 100 kV, the formed conductive path is given sufficient energy to generate plasma. As a result, the conductive path formed by the nanostructured material forms a plasma filament and can generate plasma. Thereby, a high temperature of about 10 8 K can be realized. And since the medium contains deuterium, it can be used as fuel for a nuclear fusion reaction, and a nuclear fusion reaction can be generated.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment and examples, it has been described as a nuclear fusion reaction generating apparatus or a nuclear fusion reaction generating method, but it can also be used as a plasma generating apparatus or a plasma generating method. Also, although the carbon nanotube 4 has been described as having a diameter of 10 nm, it may be in the range of 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less in diameter and 0.5 mm or more and 100 mm or less in length. Although the distance between the electrodes 3, 3 has been described as 1 cm, it may be in the range of 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less. Although the potential difference between the electrodes 3, 3 has been described as 100 kV, it is in the range of 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less, and it should be an electric field strength that does not cause overall dielectric breakdown together with the distance between the electrodes.

Explanation of symbols

[0064] 1 Nuclear fusion reaction generating apparatus 2 Liquid (medium) 3 Electrode 4 Carbon nanotube 5 Power source 6 Switch

Claims

1. At least a pair of electrodes for applying a potential difference to an insulating medium containing a fusion fuel, A power source connected to the pair of electrodes, A plurality of nanostructured materials having conductivity dispersed in the medium, Comprising, Each of the nanostructured materials has a diameter of 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and a length of 0.5 mm or more and 100 mm or less, The distance between the electrodes is 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less, A fusion reaction generating device in which the potential difference is 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less.

2. At least a pair of electrodes for applying a potential difference to an insulating medium, A power source connected to the pair of electrodes, A plurality of nanostructured materials having conductivity dispersed in the medium, Comprising, Each of the nanostructured materials has a diameter of 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and a length of 0.5 mm or more and 100 mm or less, The distance between the electrodes is 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less, A plasma generating device in which the potential difference is 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less.

3. At least a pair of electrodes for applying a potential difference to an insulating medium containing a fusion fuel, A power source connected to the pair of electrodes, A plurality of nanostructured materials having conductivity dispersed in the medium, A method for generating a fusion reaction using the above, Each of the nanostructured materials has a diameter of 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and a length of 0.5 mm or more and 100 mm or less, The distance between the electrodes is 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less, A method for generating a fusion reaction in which the potential difference is 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less.

4. At least a pair of electrodes for applying a potential difference to an insulating medium, A power source connected to the pair of electrodes, A plurality of nanostructured materials having conductivity dispersed in the medium, A plasma generating method using the above, Each of the nanostructured materials has a diameter of 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and a length of 0.5 mm or more and 100 mm or less, The distance between the electrodes is 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less, A plasma generating method in which the potential difference is 10 kV or more and 1000 kV or less.

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