Axial Magnet Plasma Confinement Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plasma confinement and production methods face limitations in achieving efficient plasma confinement across a wide pressure range, particularly at higher pressures, and are hindered by the difficulty in producing compact composite magnetic structures with radial magnetization.
Innovation Solution
A device utilizing permanent magnets with axial magnetization, arranged symmetrically within the enclosure to prevent magnetic field lines from crossing the median plane or walls, allowing for efficient plasma confinement and production across a broad pressure range without the need for supporting rods, enabling optimal ECR conditions and collisional absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If composite magnetic structures with radial magnetization are used to improve plasma confinement, then plasma density and uniformity are enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity and compactness are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the magnetization direction parameter from radial to axial, and arranges magnets in alternating polarity patterns (North-South-North-South) around the enclosure perimeter. This parameter change simplifies the magnetic structure while maintaining effective plasma confinement and density enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic confinement system is segmented into multiple discrete permanent magnets arranged in alternating polarity sequences around the enclosure. Each magnet is an independent unit with uniform axial magnetization, simplifying manufacturing compared to monolithic composite structures with radial magnetization.
2Quantity of substance
If permanent magnets are placed close to the enclosure walls to improve confinement efficiency, then plasma density increases, but electron loss to walls increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses asymmetric alternating polarity arrangements where North and South poles are distributed non-uniformly around the enclosure perimeter. This creates complex magnetic field line patterns that remain attached to the magnet surfaces and do not cross the enclosure walls, preventing electron loss while maintaining high plasma density near the walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field is concentrated in specific regions where alternating poles create strong local field gradients, providing sufficient confinement in those areas without requiring uniform field distribution everywhere. This partial concentration of magnetic action achieves effective confinement with reduced overall magnet placement.
3Stability of the object's composition
If magnets are arranged in continuous line structures to improve confinement, then plasma uniformity is enhanced, but the distance optimization between magnets becomes more critical
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs discrete alternating polarity magnets that dynamically adapt the magnetic field distribution based on plasma conditions. The alternating North-South arrangement creates self-adjusting field patterns that maintain plasma uniformity without requiring extremely precise fixed spacing, as the field naturally redistributes around the enclosure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the confinement and production of dense plasmas from low to high pressures with maximum coupling efficiency, maintaining ECR conditions and preventing electron loss, while allowing for scalable and compact magnetic structures, optimizing microwave coupling and plasma production.
Implementation Method 1
The confinement of the plasma is generally achieved by placing at the periphery of the confinement volume, inside or outside the walls of the enclosure, permanent magnets presenting alternating north and south polarities to the plasma
Implementation Method 2
allowing for efficient plasma confinement and production across a broad pressure range without the need for supporting rods, enabling optimal ECR conditions and collisional absorption
Data Source
Figure 1~3B
Figure 4A~6B
Figure 7A~9B
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for producing and/or confining a plasma (10), said device comprising a chamber (13) in the space of which the plasma is produced and/or confined, said chamber (13) including a wall (1) defining a housing (15) inside the chamber (15) and encompassing said space, wherein said device is characterised in that it comprises at least one assembly (30) for producing and/or confining plasma, each assembly (30) being composed of magnets (3) having only an axial magnetisation direction and being recessed in the wall (1) defining the housing, so that the magnetisation direction of all the magnets (3) defining each assembly (30) is substantially perpendicular to the housing (15) defined by the wall (1) and so that the assembly (30) is substantially symmetrical to the housing, wherein the magnetic field lines (5) do not extend through the wall (1) of the chamber. The invention also relates to a method for producing and/or confining a plasma.