Systems and methods to reduce the amplitude of undesirable eddy currents in conducting structures, e.g., induced by the translation of an FRC into a confinement chamber, while leaving beneficial eddy currents unaffected. This is achieved by inducing opposing currents in the same conducting structures prior to plasma translation into the confinement chamber.

Systems and methods to reduce the amplitude of undesirable eddy currents in conducting structures, e.g., induced by the translation of an FRC into a confinement chamber, while leaving beneficial eddy currents unaffected. This is achieved by inducing opposing currents in the same conducting structures prior to plasma translation into the confinement chamber.

A system and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.

A system and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.

A weakly ionized plasma of ions and neutrals is generated from a first reactant in a confinement region. Orthogonal electric and magnetic fields induce azimuthal rotation of the ions around a longitudinal axis of the confinement region, the azimuthal rotation of the ions imparting azimuthal rotation to the neutrals of the first reactant, and promoting repeated collisions between one or both of the ions and the neutrals with a second reactant. The repeated collisions produce an interaction between the neutrals and the second reactant that produces a product having a nuclear mass that is different from a nuclear mass of any of the nuclei of the neutrals and the second reactant.

A weakly ionized plasma of ions and neutrals is generated from a first reactant in a confinement region. Orthogonal electric and magnetic fields induce azimuthal rotation of the ions around a longitudinal axis of the confinement region, the azimuthal rotation of the ions imparting azimuthal rotation to the neutrals of the first reactant, and promoting repeated collisions between one or both of the ions and the neutrals with a second reactant. The repeated collisions produce an interaction between the neutrals and the second reactant that produces a product having a nuclear mass that is different from a nuclear mass of any of the nuclei of the neutrals and the second reactant.

A plasma chamber surface including a solid surface with a liquid covering one side; regions on the surface with a gradient of the magnetic field such that the magnetic field strength increases going into the solid surface from the liquid; magnetic aspects present near the surface on the side opposite to the liquid for creating or modifying magnetic fields generated by at least one of ferromagnetic materials, paramagnetic materials, permanently magnetized materials, and electromagnets; wherein the liquid contains magnetic material that causes the liquid to be attracted to regions of higher magnetic field strength, and wherein the magnetic material comprises at least one of paramagnetic chemical elements, paramagnetic chemical compounds, ferromagnetic chemical elements, ferromagnetic chemical compounds, ferrimagnetic materials, superparamagnetic materials, and nanoparticles; and wherein the liquid is attracted to the surface and substantially continually covers a substantial portion of the surface.

A plasma chamber surface including a solid surface with a liquid covering one side; regions on the surface with a gradient of the magnetic field such that the magnetic field strength increases going into the solid surface from the liquid; magnetic aspects present near the surface on the side opposite to the liquid for creating or modifying magnetic fields generated by at least one of ferromagnetic materials, paramagnetic materials, permanently magnetized materials, and electromagnets; wherein the liquid contains magnetic material that causes the liquid to be attracted to regions of higher magnetic field strength, and wherein the magnetic material comprises at least one of paramagnetic chemical elements, paramagnetic chemical compounds, ferromagnetic chemical elements, ferromagnetic chemical compounds, ferrimagnetic materials, superparamagnetic materials, and nanoparticles; and wherein the liquid is attracted to the surface and substantially continually covers a substantial portion of the surface.

A method and apparatus for generating light includes a chamber having a high voltage region, a low voltage region, and a plasma generation region that defines a plasma confinement region. A magnetic core is positioned around the chamber and is configured to generate a plasma in the plasma confinement region. A switched power supply includes a DC power supply and a switched resonant charging circuit that together generate a plurality of voltage pulses at the output causing a plurality of current pulses to be applied to the power delivery section around the magnetic core so that at least one plasma loop is established around the magnetic core that confines plasma in the plasma confinement region, thereby forming a magnetically confined Z-pinch plasma. Light generated by the Z-pinch plasma propagates out of a port in the light source.

A method and apparatus for generating light includes a chamber having a high voltage region, a low voltage region, and a plasma generation region that defines a plasma confinement region. A magnetic core is positioned around the chamber and is configured to generate a plasma in the plasma confinement region. A switched power supply includes a DC power supply and a switched resonant charging circuit that together generate a plurality of voltage pulses at the output causing a plurality of current pulses to be applied to the power delivery section around the magnetic core so that at least one plasma loop is established around the magnetic core that confines plasma in the plasma confinement region, thereby forming a magnetically confined Z-pinch plasma. Light generated by the Z-pinch plasma propagates out of a port in the light source.