6. Operation of Invention

A basic operation can be better understood from the FIG. 1 in where magnet 1 and magnet 2 generates a magnetic field of same polarity, preferably south, at the intersection between them forming magnetic cusps. The acceleration electric potential (first electric potential) is applied at the region of magnetic cusps. The confinement electric potential (second electric potential), of opposite polarity to the first, is applied to armature 63 (FIG. 11) generating electric fields. The electrical insulators 5 and 6 provide an electrical gap between the armature and the magnets.

For trapping positively charged particles (positive ions) the acceleration electric potential (first electric potential) must have a negative voltage, and the confinement electric potential (second electric potential) must have a positive voltage. Otherwise, for trapping negatively charged particles (negative ions) the acceleration electric potential (first electric potential) must have a positive voltage, and the confinement electric potential (second electric potential) must have a negative voltage. The confinement electric potential can be adjusted for trapping only the reactants allowing the charged products of the nuclear fusion to escape longitudinally overcoming the confinement electric potential.

The ion injectors 4 of the circular injector belt 3, ionizes a nuclear fusion fuel exchanging electrons with the ground electric potential (common electric potential), and the ionized fuel, that is charged particles or ions, is accelerated in an electrostatic way towards the intersection (region of magnetic cusps) reaching the interior of the magnets after passing through the region of magnetic cusps. The charged particles become confined radially by magnetic fields and trapped longitudinally along the axis of the magnets by the electric fields generated by the first and second electric potentials. The armature electric fields, of same polarity of the charged particles, act as an electrostatic lens focusing (converging) the particles as they approach to it and defocusing (diverging) them as they move away from it. The magnetic fields act as a magnetic lens focusing (converging) the charged particles. If the magnets are similar as the previously described in FIG. 3, comprising of a set of independent winding groups, then each group can have its electric current varied independently from the others in order to change the magnetic flux shaping the magnetic field to achieve a best focal length increasing the fusion rate.

The charged particles move longitudinally describing a circular and helical orbit around the magnetic field lines keeping away from the magnet walls, similarly as magnetic confinement fusion reactors. At the region of the magnetic cusps, the magnetic field lines are curved forcing the charged particles to describe a more elliptical and eccentric orbit increasing electrostatic pressure at the region of the magnetic cusps creating a great difficulty to them to escape overcoming this region (magnetic mirror), and the continuous injection of the charged particles by the ion injector belt become it more difficult yet.

The charged particles are confined radially by magnetic fields and trapped longitudinally by first and second electric field in the interior of the magnetic fields and confined by magnetic cusp by magnetic mirror phenomenon, until the charged particles fuse and their charged products may escape longitudinally overcoming the second electric field. Thereby represents a true three-dimensional confinement with an adequate escape mechanism.

Inducing variations preferably by pulses on electrical current of the magnets results in oscillations on magnetic flux transferring radially energy to plasma (pinch effect) increasing the fusion rate.

If the magnets are similar as the previously described in FIG. 3, coated with a hard and dense metal alloy, tungsten or depleted uranium, then most of the electromagnetic radiation (bremsstrahlung) can be reflected back to the plasma recycling its energy increasing the fusion rate. If the coating is done in an electrical insulated annular way or using a powder compound of the metal alloy in order to keep an electrical insulation along the longitudinal axis of the magnet, and if the magnet windings are comprised by multiple flat pancake coils (FIG. 3), then a voltage produced by inductive reactance of the pancake coils, producing an alternating electric field in the bore due to an electrical current variation, can be transferred axially to the plasma increasing a little more the fusion rate.

Inducing oscillations on electric voltage of the first or second potentials, preferably both, most of the energy of the electric oscillations will be transferred longitudinally to the charged particles increasing the fusion rate.

The oscillations described above can be comprised by a modulation and multiplexing of frequencies: a cyclotron rotation at frequency ω₊, a magnetron rotation at frequency ω_-, and an axial "trapping" oscillation at frequency ω_z. The higher frequency is the cyclotron that can be estimated f=qB / (2πm), and the others is by measuring energy production and adjusting the oscillations to reach a maximum synchronization of phase and frequency with the plasma resulting in an increase of the fusion rate. For that, can be a conventional RF generator via a pulse transformer connected in series with the power supplies. Adjusting and measuring the energy production is a simple way to determine the frequencies and can be understood as an elementary resonance method. An excess of electric charge in the reactor chamber can lead to a saturation wasting fuel and reducing the energy production, however, using oscillations for increasing the fusion rate will decrease the electric charge in the reactor chamber allowing injection of more of the charged particles increasing the energy production.

Thoughtfulness about the preferable polarity of the magnetic fields at the intersection between the magnets forming the magnetic cusps region: an electric current on magnet windings develops an electric voltage on its terminals due to resistivity, and a pulse, positive or negative, on electric current develop an electric voltage on its terminals due to inductive reactance. The electric voltage due to resistivity can be too little to take some advantage. Thus the magnetic south polarity is only a predilection, but could be magnetic north polarity if desirable.

The most efficient method of transferring kinetic energy to the charged particles is by electrostatic acceleration, doing this from a ground potential (common electric potential) and allowing the charged particles fall to the acceleration electric potential (first electric potential) exchanging its potential energy to kinetic energy, represents great kinetic energy at low energy consumption (P=V×I; V=0 → P=0). A measurement of electron current between the ion source and the ground electric potential can be used to determine charge-to-mass ratio of the plasma. A duoplasmatron is one of the ion sources that can be used in the ion injector 4, and its advantage is to produce either positive or negative ions. For ionizing the nuclear fusion fuels to the positively charged particles is by extracting electrons from them and sending electrons to the common electric potential, otherwise for ionizing to the negatively charged particles is by extracting electrons from the common electric potential and adding the electrons to the nuclear fusion fuel.

Fusing positively charged particles represents a normal energy production and low bremsstrahlung radiation, otherwise fusing negatively charged particles represents a high energy production and high bremsstrahlung radiation, however, for a highest energy production, the charge-to-mass ratio must keep as low as possible, that is the plasma charged particles must be a quasi-neutral plasma resulting in a high density, which implies in a higher magnetic flux and a higher acceleration and confinement voltage, as will be further understood by calculations.

The nuclear fusion fuel can be composed of light atomic nucleus like hydrogen, deuterium, tritium, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, and their various isotopes. Some isotopes like hydrogen-1, helium-3, lithium-6, lithium-7 and boron-11 are the interest for aneutronic nuclear fusion (low neutron radiation), in special boron hydrides and helium-3. The fuel specific energy and charge-to-mass ratio are essential for dimensioning the magnet bore, magnetic flux and electric voltages, as will be further understood by calculations.

The injector belt 3 of the basic embodiment (FIG. 1) injects the charged particles only in radial ways, representing a bi-dimensional ion injection plus the true three-dimensional confinement. The injector belt 12 of the preferred embodiment (FIG. 2) injects the charged particles in three orthogonal axes, representing a three-dimensional ion injection plus the true three-dimensional confinement, having higher probability of fusing atomic nucleus.

The six magnet bending 23 and 33 is useful to bend the exhausting products of the nuclear fusion, as previously described for the preferred embodiment in FIG. 4. The alternative embodiment (FIG. 11), comprised by two magnets, dispense the magnet bending, but require an extra confinement potential in order for the exhausting charged products escape through only one of its ends, however, it increases the probability of secondary reactions. The preferred embodiment (FIG. 4) can have its three magnet bending top 23 suppressed and applied an extra confinement electric potential, then the charged products can only escape by its others three magnet bending 33, this can simplify the assembly but increase the secondary fusion reactions meaning more radiation hazards. Thus, more output for the charged products will result less the undesirable secondary fusion reactions.

The base 39 (FIG. 5), as well 71 (FIG. 12), is connected to the ground electric potential (common electric potential). The output electrical insulators 26 and 34 (FIG. 5), as well 61 (FIG. 11), is to provide an electrical insulation between the armature and the base. Surrounding the outputs there are the electrostatic deflector plates 27 (FIG. 5), as well 68 (FIG. 11), to deflect the charged products in order to align its trajectory giving some steering.

The neutralization is essential to prevent that the charged products, after passing through the outputs, turn around and collide back eroding the base and others components, for that, the sum of the electron current of the neutralizers 25, 28, 29, 30, 32 and so forth (FIG. 5) must be equaled to the sum of the electron current of the ion injector belt 12 (FIG. 2). This rule must be applied for the neutralizers 64, 65, 66 and so forth (FIG. 11) and the circular injector belt 3. The electricity conversion by neutralization process will be further explained.


A special power supply system is required to generate voltages for the acceleration electric potential (first electric potential), the confinement electric potential (second electric potential), and for the other components of the nuclear fusion reactor. Its main feature is to allow a multidirectional energy flow used to recycle energy stored in magnets (E=½LI²) and capacitors (E=½CV²) back to a battery bank or to the others power supplies.

A continuation of the FIG. 7 is illustrated as an electronic schematic diagram in FIG. 13 to clarity the multidirectional energy flow, in where the battery bank 42 and a capacitor C1 has electric energy stored, circuit CI1 switches between on and off states the MOSFET transistors T1 and T4, T2 and T3, alternating the electric current to the electrical transformer 36. The diode bridge, comprised by diodes D5 and D8, D6 and D7, convert the alternating electric current from transformer 36 to direct current to supply a capacitor C2 storing the energy in it. This process is well known in a conventional switching-mode power supply having a full bridge technology using either MOSFET or IGBT transistors.

The energy stored in capacitor C2 can be sent back to battery bank 42 and capacitor C1 if circuit CI2 switches between on and off states the MOSFET transistors T5 and T8, T6 and T7, alternating the electric current to the electrical transformer 36, and the diode bridge, comprised by diodes D1 and D4, D3 and D2, convert the alternating electric current from transformer 36 to direct current to supply battery bank 42 and capacitor C1 restoring the energy to it.

The power supplies 45 and 46 have a bidirectional energy flow between them, the transformer 36 have others power supplies attained to it, and, with a suitable control, perform the multidirectional energy flow.

To invert the output polarity of the power supply 46, worthwhile for confining and fusing either positively or negatively charged particles from a duoplasmatron ion source, a circuit CI3 switch on the relays K2 and K3, and switch off the relays K1 and K4, then the terminal V1 have a positive voltage relative to V2, otherwise will have a negative voltage.

To achieve high voltages for acceleration and confinement potentials, several power supplies, similarly as described above, must be connected in series from the ground electric potential (common electric potential). Some power supplies have a high electric voltage between them (millions Volts). For that, and to control and monitor the whole system, an optical fiber 80 is the most recommended due to its high electrical insulation and immunity to an electromagnetic interference. The control system 81 controls and monitors the power supplies and other reactor components via the optical fiber 80, as well 31 and 35 (FIG. 4), using a semi-duplex protocol.

Before explaining the electricity conversion from the charged products, is useful to remember some physics electric concepts: extracting electrons from a positive terminal of a charged capacitor will increase its voltage and consequently increase its stored energy (E=½CV²), otherwise extracting electrons from a negative terminal of the charged capacitor will decrease its voltage and consequently decrease its stored energy. Another way to think is allowing electrons towards to the positive terminal of the charged capacitor will decrease its voltage and consequently decrease its stored energy (E=½CV²), otherwise pushing electrons towards to the negative terminal of the charged capacitor will increase its voltage and consequently increase its stored energy.

The method of converting kinetic energy from charged products in electricity is by neutralization process, where neutralizer particles comprise either electrons or positive ions. If the products of the nuclear fusion reaction are positively charged then the positive confinement electric potential forces the positively charged products to exchange its kinetic energy to potential energy, and the positively charged products attract easily electrons from the neutralizer 25 (FIG. 4) which is at the positive confinement electric potential. The electron extraction from the positive potential will increase the voltage of the capacitor C2 of the switching-mode power supply (similar to FIG. 13). The charged products lose kinetic energy and will not reach full acceleration to the ground electric potential after being neutralized.The circuit CI2 can send the energy received from the charged products to the transformer 36 allowing the flow of electrons from its ground to reduce the positive voltage, for that must switch its transistors, as previously described in FIG. 13, sending excess of energy to the electrical transformer, and the power supply 45 can receive the energy by its diode bridge and then supply the battery bank 42 or other power supply. The whole process is controlled, in a synchronized mode, by the control system 81. The received electric power is calculated by formula: P = V × I, that is, the electric potential versus flow of electrons equals to the energy flow received from the charged products.

Otherwise, if the products of the nuclear fusion reaction are negatively charged then the negative confinement electric potential forces the negatively charged products to exchange its kinetic energy to potential energy, and the negatively charged products attract easily positive ions from the neutralizer 25 (FIG. 4), preferably a duoplasmatron, which is at the negative confinement electric potential. The neutralizer electrons pushed towards to the negative potential will increase the voltage of the capacitor C2 of the switching-mode power supply (similar to FIG. 13). The charged products lose kinetic energy and will not reach full acceleration to the ground electric potential after being neutralized. The stored energy in the capacitor C2 can be sent to others power supplies as previously described.

The method of transferring electric energy to increase the kinetic energy of the charged products is also by ion neutralization. This method is useful for spacecraft propulsion purposes like stabilization. If the products of the nuclear fusion reaction are positively charged then a negative electric potential, can be applied to the deflector 27 (FIG. 4), increasing the kinetic energy of the positively charged products, and the positively charged products attract easily electrons from the neutralizer 28 (FIG. 4) which is at the negative electric potential. The electron extraction from the negative potential will decrease the voltage of the capacitor C2 of the switching-mode power supply (similar to FIG. 13). The charged products gain more kinetic energy reaching an extra acceleration to the ground electric potential before being neutralized. The power supply 45 must send more energy to the power supply 46 via transformer 36 to restore the voltage of the capacitor C2. The transferred electric power is calculated by formula: P = V × I, as previously described.

Otherwise, if the products of the nuclear fusion reaction are negatively charged then a positive electric potential, can be applied to the deflector 27 (FIG. 4), increasing the kinetic energy of the negatively charged products, and the negatively charged products attract easily positive ions from the neutralizer 28 (FIG. 4), preferably a duoplasmatron, which is at the positive electric potential. The neutralizer electrons pushed towards to the positive potential will decrease the voltage of the capacitor C2 of the switching-mode power supply (FIG. 13). The charged products gain more kinetic energy reaching an extra acceleration to the ground electric potential before being neutralized. The power supply 45 must send more energy to the power supply 46 via transformer 36 to restore the voltage of the capacitor C2, similarly as previously described.

After accomplished desired conversions of energy as described above, which can excess 95% of efficiency using aneutronic fuels like boron hydrides and helium-3, the remaining of the charged products must be fully neutralized, for that, there are neutralizer like 29 and 32 (FIG. 4) at the ground electric potential. As previously described, the sum of the electron current of the neutralizers must be equaled to the sum of the electron current of the ion injector belt.

The heat exchange system, previously described in FIG. 8, can recycle the magnet bore heat energy, due to electromagnetic radiation, to generate electricity. It is also worthwhile for recycling heat energy from fast neutrons if using neutronic fuels like deuterium.

The operation of the alternative embodiment FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are similar to the preferred embodiment.