Helical Resonator Ion Accelerator Reducing Heat and Impedance Complexity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing helical ion accelerators are inefficient and costly, generating significant heat and requiring complex impedance matching, which limits their ability to achieve high acceleration of deuteron ions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A Helical Resonator Ion Accelerator design featuring a hollow dielectric pipe with a coaxial coil and outer metal pipe, filled with high electrical breakdown voltage material, within a solenoid magnetic field, uses a pulse generator to create a traveling wave that accelerates deuteron ions by varying the geometry and impedance along the axis, allowing for efficient focusing and recirculation of energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional helical ion accelerators are used, then ion acceleration is achieved, but significant heat is generated and device complexity increases due to complex impedance matching requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional helical accelerator parameters by introducing a resonant frequency condition and changing the impedance matching approach. The helical structure is designed with specific geometric parameters (pitch, diameter, turn density) that create a resonant mode, allowing energy to be stored and recirculated rather than dissipated as heat. This parameter transformation resolves the contradiction by reducing heat generation through resonant energy storage while simplifying the overall system design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs periodic electromagnetic oscillations at a resonant frequency within the helical structure. By establishing a periodic action where energy oscillates between electric and magnetic fields in the resonant mode, the system achieves continuous ion acceleration without the need for complex continuous impedance matching networks. The periodic energy recirculation reduces thermal losses while maintaining acceleration efficiency.
2Speed
If traditional helical ion accelerators are used, then ion acceleration is achieved, but device cost and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The resonant helical structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the accelerating electric field, acts as an electromagnetic resonator for energy storage, provides magnetic focusing through its solenoidal geometry, and eliminates the need for separate impedance matching networks. This multi-functionality achieves high ion acceleration velocities while reducing overall device complexity and cost by consolidating multiple required functions into a single integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key geometric parameters of the helical structure (pitch angle, wire diameter, turn spacing) to optimize the resonant frequency and accelerating field strength. By carefully selecting these parameters, the system achieves high acceleration velocities with a simpler, more compact structure compared to traditional designs that require separate components for each function.
3Power
If high voltage pulses are applied to the coil, then ion acceleration is achieved, but voltage reflection from the distal end reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The resonant helical structure provides inherent feedback by storing electromagnetic energy in its resonant mode and recirculating it back toward the ion source. The resonant cavity reflects energy back in a controlled manner that maintains the accelerating field rather than causing lossful reflections. This feedback mechanism ensures that high power is delivered to accelerate ions while minimizing energy loss through uncontrolled voltage reflections at the distal end.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase relationships between electric and magnetic fields in the resonant mode to convert reflected energy constructively back into accelerating field energy. The resonant structure transforms the phase of reflected waves so that they reinforce rather than cancel the accelerating field, maintaining high power transfer efficiency while eliminating the harmful effects of voltage reflection.
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 design achieves higher deuteron ion velocities with lower costs and heat generation, enabling efficient acceleration and focusing of deuteron beams for applications like neutron inspection, while maintaining a compact and economical structure.
Implementation Method 1
The outer metal pipe is positioned within the high intensity (e.g. 0.5-3.0 Tesla) solenoid magnetic field such as produced by a superconducting solenoid, to provide continuous axial focusing of the deuteron beam
Implementation Method 2
A pulse generator is coupled to the proximal end of the coil, to generate a voltage wave form pulse which is coupled to the coil. The pulse then travels down the axis of the accelerator on the coil (not traveling directly on the wire but axially on the helix formed by the coil)
Implementation Method 3
A material with a high electrical breakdown voltage such as dielectric oil or sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) at one to several atmospheres of pressure fills a void formed between the coil and the outer metal pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A Helical Resonator Ion Accelerator in which ions are injected into a hollow dielectric pipe forming a vacuum chamber along which the ions are accelerated. The pipe is wrapped with a coil and positioned inside a metal pipe. The dielectric pipe, the coil and the metal pipe are arranged coaxially on an axis along which ions are accelerated. The metal pipe is positioned within a high intensity 0.5-3.0 Tesla solenoid. A pulse generator is coupled to the coil to generate a voltage wave pulse. The pulse travels down the axis of the accelerator on the helix formed by the coil. An ion source injects deuteron ions along the axis of the vacuum chamber. A traveling voltage wave is accelerated by tapering the characteristic velocity of the accelerator in the direction of wave propagation by tapering the coil and the outer metal pipe together in a constant ratio.