A method of controlling a plasma in a nuclear fusion reactor. The nuclear fusion reactor comprises sensors and plasma control inputs. An initial control model is provided, relating readings of at least a subset of the sensors to control of the plasma control inputs. A control loop is performed, comprising: operating the plasma control inputs in dependence upon the sensors according to the control model; determining correlations between readings of each of the sensors, and/or between readings of the sensors and states of the plasma control inputs; and adjusting the control model based on the determined correlations.

A fusion drive magnetically confining a plasma in a stable plectonemic minimum-energy Taylor states formed from the merging of a plurality of plectonemic Taylor states. Magnetic reconnection converts magnetic energy into ion heating to attain high temperatures before compression. The plasma configuration is then compressed to net gain in a peristaltic magnetic nozzle arrangement. The fusion drive supports generation of electrical power with inductive direct electric or thermal conversion methods.

A method of controlling a plasma in a nuclear fusion reactor. The nuclear fusion reactor comprises sensors and plasma control inputs. An initial control model is provided, relating readings of at least a subset of the sensors to control of the plasma control inputs. A control loop is performed, comprising: operating the plasma control inputs in dependence upon the sensors according to the control model; determining correlations between readings of each of the sensors, and/or between readings of the sensors and states of the plasma control inputs; and adjusting the control model based on the determined correlations.

A system and method for performing active scanning on a nuclear fuel rod are provided. The system includes an electrically-driven neutron generator including an ion source, an accelerator, and a target; a moderator surrounding the neutron generator and configured to moderate neutrons generated by the neutron generator; a fuel rod channel disposed within the moderator, the fuel rod channel configured to receive a nuclear fuel rod and subject the nuclear fuel rod to a predetermined neutron flux; and a plurality of radiation detectors. When the nuclear fuel rod is subjected to the predetermined neutron flux, neutrons induce a secondary radiation of prompt and delayed gamma emissions, neutron emission, or a combination thereof that are detected by the plurality of radiation detectors to determine an amount of fissile material in the nuclear fuel rod and a spatial distribution of the fissile material along a length of the nuclear fuel rod.

A machine, article, process of using, process of making, products produced thereby and necessary intermediates. Illustratively, there can be a process of producing electrical power, the process comprising: creating neutrons via nuclear reactions, said neutrons carrying neutron kinetic energy; moderating said neutrons to thermal energies to produce moderated neutrons, converting the neutron kinetic energy into heat, and transmitting said heat to a heat exchanger; creating ions via the nuclear reactions, stopping the ions to produce heat, and transmitting to said heat exchanger the heat generated by the stopping of the ions; capturing said moderated neutrons with sulfur atoms to produce heat, and transmitting to said heat exchanger energy released by the capturing of said moderated neutrons; transmitting energy from decaying radioisotopes created by the capturing of said moderated neutrons to said heat exchanger; heat exchanging at least some of each said heat and energy in said heat exchanger by converting water into steam; and generating electrical power with said steam.

A machine, article, process of using, process of making, products produced thereby and necessary intermediates. Illustratively, there can be a process of producing electrical power, the process comprising: creating neutrons via nuclear reactions, said neutrons carrying neutron kinetic energy; moderating said neutrons to thermal energies to produce moderated neutrons, converting the neutron kinetic energy into heat, and transmitting said heat to a heat exchanger; creating ions via the nuclear reactions, stopping the ions to produce heat, and transmitting to said heat exchanger the heat generated by the stopping of the ions; capturing said moderated neutrons with sulfur atoms to produce heat, and transmitting to said heat exchanger energy released by the capturing of said moderated neutrons; transmitting energy from decaying radioisotopes created by the capturing of said moderated neutrons to said heat exchanger; heat exchanging at least some of each said heat and energy in said heat exchanger by converting water into steam; and generating electrical power with said steam.

A target shell monitoring device 4 that monitors an attitude and a position of the target shell Tg1, a compression laser output device 5a that irradiates the target shell Tg1 with a compression laser light LS1, and a heating laser output device 6 that irradiates the target shell Tg1 with a heating laser light LS3 following the compression laser light LS1 are provided. The target shell Tg1 has a hollow spherical shell shape, includes an approximately spherical space Sp on an inner side thereof, includes at least one through hole H1 connecting an outer side thereof and the space Sp, and includes, on an outer surface Sf1 thereof, irradiation areas Ar1 and Ar2 to be irradiated with compression laser lights.

A propulsion method including the steps of providing a vehicle comprising a cylindrical reactor unit; conducting a nuclear fusion reaction in the cylindrical reactor unit; and deflecting a pulse of electrically charged ions from the cylindrical reactor unit in one direction in a counter-parabolic electrical field to accelerate a surface of the parabolic wall in an opposite direction so as to propel the vehicle.

A system and method for performing active scanning on a nuclear fuel rod are provided. The system includes an electrically-driven neutron generator including an ion source, an accelerator, and a target; a moderator surrounding the neutron generator and configured to moderate neutrons generated by the neutron generator; a fuel rod channel disposed within the moderator, the fuel rod channel configured to receive a nuclear fuel rod and subject the nuclear fuel rod to a predetermined neutron flux; and a plurality of radiation detectors. When the nuclear fuel rod is subjected to the predetermined neutron flux, neutrons induce a secondary radiation of prompt and delayed gamma emissions, neutron emission, or a combination thereof that are detected by the plurality of radiation detectors to determine an amount of fissile material in the nuclear fuel rod and a spatial distribution of the fissile material along a length of the nuclear fuel rod.

A computer implemented method for optimizing energy transfer and conversion in quantum systems and conversion in quantum systems including providing a database of input variables, modeling an intial crystal structure of the lattice sample at a first set of environmental parameters, adding a dopant and determining a new equilibrium state of the lattice sample at a second set of environmental parameters, estimating state transition rates in the absence of any strong coupling to a second quantum system, determining presence of any coupling and coupling strength to the second quantum system, providing coherent stimulation of the lattice sample, determining presence of coupling and enhancement of coupling strength after coherent stimulation, determining energy transfer and conversion dynamics as a result of coherent stimulation and the enhanced coupling and determining output variable of the energy transfer and conversion dynamics between the first quantum system and the second quantum system in the lattice sample via a computing engine.