A single-pass heavy-ion fusion system for power production from fusion reactions alone, power production that uses additional energy of fission reactions obtained by driving a sub-critical fission pile with the neutrons from fusion reactions, destroying high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste by intense bombardment with fusion neutrons, or for the production of neutron beams for various applications includes a new arrangement of current multiplying processes that employs a multiplicity of isotopes to achieve the desired effect of distributing the task of amplifying the current among all the various processes, to relieve stress on any one process, and to increase the design margin for assured ICF (inertial confinement fusion) ignition for applications including but not restricted to the above list. The energy content and power of the ignition-driver pulses are greatly increased, thus increasing intensity of target heating and rendering reliable ignition readily attainable.

Enhanced Coulomb repulsion (electron) screening around light element nuclei is achieved by way of utilizing target structures (e.g., nanoparticles) that undergo plasmon oscillation when subjected to electromagnetic (EM) radiation, whereby transient high density electron clouds are produced in localized regions of the target structures during each plasmon oscillation cycle. Each target structure includes an integral body composed of an electrically conductive material that contains light element atoms (e.g., metal hydrides, metal deuterides or metal tritides). The integral body is also configured (i.e., shaped/sized) to undergo plasmon oscillations in response to the applied EM radiation such that the transient high density electron clouds are formed during each plasmon oscillation cycle, whereby brief but significantly elevated charge density variations are generated around light element (e.g., deuterium) atoms located in the localized regions, thereby enhancing Coulomb repulsion screening to enhance nuclear fusion reaction rates. Various target structure compositions and configurations are disclosed.

The invention is for a startup system for nuclear fusion engines in space. The combustion of hydrogen and oxygen produces heat that is used by a heat engine to produce electricity. This can be supplemented by electricity from other operating engines. The exhaust from the combustion is condensed and electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen once the engine is in operation. This provides a constant source of energy for future startups. The engine is started up at partial power in electricity generation mode and this power replaces the power from the combustion as it grows. The combustor uses the same heat engine as the nuclear engine uses for power generation.

The invention is for a startup system for nuclear fusion engines in space. The combustion of hydrogen and oxygen produces heat that is used by a heat engine to produce electricity. This can be supplemented by electricity from other operating engines. The exhaust from the combustion is condensed and electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen once the engine is in operation. This provides a constant source of energy for future startups. The engine is started up at partial power in electricity generation mode and this power replaces the power from the combustion as it grows. The combustor uses the same heat engine as the nuclear engine uses for power generation.

An ion generator including a vacuum chamber; an anode in the chamber, and two movable cathodes in the chamber whereby the distance of the cathodes relative to the anode can be varied. A servo actuated motor can be operably connected to each movable cathode to move the cathodes in the chamber and modify the plasma generated.

An Electron-coupled transformer for generating a high voltage output pulse as an amplified version of an input pulse includes a cylindrical triode electron tube with a central anode along main axis and a grid and cathode radially spaced from the anode. The anode has a first end directly grounded and a second end insulated from a direction connection to ground. The cathode and the grid form a traveling wave electron gun that produces, when the grid is grounded through a phase matching network, a radially symmetrical collapsing traveling wave of ground potential in the Transverse Electromagnetic mode. The foregoing wave of ground potential causes a beam of electrons to flow from the cathode to the anode and causes a voltage output pulse to be produced on the second end of the anode, whose magnitude is an amplified version of the input pulse that is injected into the cathode.

An Electron-coupled transformer for generating a high voltage output pulse as an amplified version of an input pulse includes a cylindrical triode electron tube with a central anode along main axis and a grid and cathode radially spaced from the anode. The anode has a first end directly grounded and a second end insulated from a direction connection to ground. The cathode and the grid form a traveling wave electron gun that produces, when the grid is grounded through a phase matching network, a radially symmetrical collapsing traveling wave of ground potential in the Transverse Electromagnetic mode. The foregoing wave of ground potential causes a beam of electrons to flow from the cathode to the anode and causes a voltage output pulse to be produced on the second end of the anode, whose magnitude is an amplified version of the input pulse that is injected into the cathode.

A nuclear fusion system comprises a nuclear fusion device for providing heat energy, a capacitor for storing electrical energy for use by the nuclear fusion device in providing the heat energy, and an electrical conductor for carrying electrical energy from the capacitor to the nuclear fusion device, each of the nuclear fusion device, the capacitor and the conductor being located within a first chamber. The first chamber is located within a second chamber. A fluid is located between the first and second chambers, surrounds the nuclear fusion device, the capacitor and the conductor, and receives heat energy from each of the nuclear fusion device, the capacitor and the conductor, resulting in the fluid being heated. A thermal energy converter receives heated fluid from the second chamber. A super insulating material encloses the second chamber to reduce heat loss from the heated fluid to the cooler ambient.

A nuclear fusion system comprises a nuclear fusion device for providing heat energy, a capacitor for storing electrical energy for use by the nuclear fusion device in providing the heat energy, and an electrical conductor for carrying electrical energy from the capacitor to the nuclear fusion device, each of the nuclear fusion device, the capacitor and the conductor being located within a first chamber. The first chamber is located within a second chamber. A fluid is located between the first and second chambers, surrounds the nuclear fusion device, the capacitor and the conductor, and receives heat energy from each of the nuclear fusion device, the capacitor and the conductor, resulting in the fluid being heated. A thermal energy converter receives heated fluid from the second chamber. A super insulating material encloses the second chamber to reduce heat loss from the heated fluid to the cooler ambient.

A cooling system for use in a superconducting magnet comprising a high temperature superconductor, HTS, coil. The cooling system comprises a refrigeration unit, one or more coolant channels, and a pumping unit. The refrigeration unit is configured to cool a gas, wherein the gas is hydrogen or helium. The one or more coolant channels are configured to be placed in thermal contact with components of the superconducting magnet and to carry said gas. The pumping unit is configured to pump said gas through the coolant channels. The refrigeration unit and pumping unit are configured to maintain the gas at a pressure and temperature such that a Joule-Thompson coefficient of the gas is positive, and the coolant channel is configured to reduce the pressure of gas as it flows through the channel by one or more of a throttle, a valve, and choice and/or variance of a cross section of the coolant channel.