Plasma Focus Neutron Source for Enhanced Yield via Remnant Ion Beams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plasma focus systems produce fusion neutrons predominantly from beam-target reactions, with a small fraction from thermonuclear reactions, leading to suboptimal neutron yield due to beam ion energies exceeding the maximum beam-target fusion cross-section.
Innovation Solution
A plasma focus system that includes a plasma focus device configured to emit a remnant ion beam, which interacts with a target medium within an enclosure, undergoing fusion and non-fusion collisions to produce neutrons, with the beam-target fusion cross-section increasing as the beam energy decreases, enhancing neutron yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beam ion energy is increased to improve fusion reaction rate, then reaction rate increases, but beam-target fusion cross-section decreases beyond optimal energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the neutron production process into two distinct stages: (1) a plasma focus device that generates high-energy remnant ion beams, and (2) a separate neutron source chamber where these beams interact with target medium. This segmentation allows optimization of each stage independently - the plasma focus operates at high voltage to create beams, while the neutron source operates at optimal fusion cross-section energies, resolving the contradiction between beam energy and fusion efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary target medium (deuterium gas, liquid, or solid) in the neutron source chamber that mediates the fusion process. Instead of directly relying on high-energy beam-target reactions in the plasma focus, the remnant ion beams are directed to interact with this intermediary target medium, which facilitates fusion reactions at optimal cross-section energies, thereby enhancing neutron yield while managing beam energy effectively
2Productivity
If conventional plasma focus systems are used, then device complexity is low, but neutron yield is suboptimal due to beam energy exceeding optimal cross-section
Solution Approach 1:
The neutron source chamber is nested within or coupled to the plasma focus device, creating a hierarchical structure where the plasma focus generates beams that are then channeled into the neutron source chamber. This nested configuration allows the system to maintain relatively simple overall structure while incorporating the additional functionality needed to optimize neutron production, thus balancing complexity enhancement with performance improvement
Data Source
AI summary
A plasma focus system for neutron production is disclosed that includes a plasma focus device and a neutron source. The plasma focus device is configured to emit a remnant ion beam. The neutron source includes an enclosure having a cavity formed therein for receiving a target medium. Depending on the application, the target medium can be a gas, a liquid, or a solid. The enclosure includes a beam entrance port configured to allow at least part of the remnant ion beam to enter and travel inside the cavity. As the remnant ion beam travels along the cavity, the beam ions interact with the target medium and undergo both fusion collisions and non-fusion collisions. The fusion collisions produce neutrons and reduce a number of the beam ions, while the non-fusion collisions reduce an energy of the beam ions. A plasma focus method of neutron production is also disclosed.