A fusion reactor with a spherical shaped confinement apparatus comprising a plurality of conductive coils that form a rotating negative potential well about a confined center at the center of the system, confining electrons expelled from a surrounding electron discharging grid to obtain a curved spherical rotation pattern to the electrons confined with in the confinement apparatus. The confinement apparatus is also rotated by a multipolar rotating electric machine to promote improved confinement by reducing the amount of time for electrons to escape confinement and shaping the particles in a more curved and spherical shape to allow converging and diverging geodesic effects to enhance tighter and denser particle confinement. This fusion concept reduces the amount of energy needed to operate while minimizing magnetic reconnection disturbances, allowing the NESAR to be the world's first reactor to meet the break-even point of fusion with possible gravitational effects.

A fusion reactor with a spherical shaped confinement apparatus comprising a plurality of conductive coils that form a rotating negative potential well about a confined center at the center of the system, confining electrons expelled from a surrounding electron discharging grid to obtain a curved spherical rotation pattern to the electrons confined with in the confinement apparatus. The confinement apparatus is also rotated by a multipolar rotating electric machine to promote improved confinement by reducing the amount of time for electrons to escape confinement and shaping the particles in a more curved and spherical shape to allow converging and diverging geodesic effects to enhance tighter and denser particle confinement. This fusion concept reduces the amount of energy needed to operate while minimizing magnetic reconnection disturbances, allowing the NESAR to be the world's first reactor to meet the break-even point of fusion with possible gravitational effects.

A method for facilitating fusion by magnetocompression of hydrogen isotopes. A magnetic field of at least 10.sup.5 T is exposed to fuel including hydrogen isotopes. After exposure to the magnetic field, the fuel is energized by a laser, ionizing the hydrogen and converting the fuel to plasma. The magnetic field compresses internuclear separation of H.sub.2+. The magnetic field also compresses the electron radius of hydrogen atoms, resulting in increased electron binding energy. Each of these changes accompanying magnetocompression facilitates fusion of the nuclei following laser excitation. A solenoid for enhancing magnetic fields is also described. The solenoid includes conduction member defining a cavity therein. The conduction member is a highly conductive material, which may include a composite of a semiconductor and a conductor. The solenoid may be applied to hold the fuel or in any application to concentrate the magnetic field in a small volume.

A method for facilitating fusion by magnetocompression of hydrogen isotopes. A magnetic field of at least 10.sup.5 T is exposed to fuel including hydrogen isotopes. After exposure to the magnetic field, the fuel is energized by a laser, ionizing the hydrogen and converting the fuel to plasma. The magnetic field compresses internuclear separation of H.sub.2+. The magnetic field also compresses the electron radius of hydrogen atoms, resulting in increased electron binding energy. Each of these changes accompanying magnetocompression facilitates fusion of the nuclei following laser excitation. A solenoid for enhancing magnetic fields is also described. The solenoid includes conduction member defining a cavity therein. The conduction member is a highly conductive material, which may include a composite of a semiconductor and a conductor. The solenoid may be applied to hold the fuel or in any application to concentrate the magnetic field in a small volume.

A high performance field reversed configuration (FRC) system includes a central confinement vessel, two diametrically opposed reversed-field-theta-pinch formation sections coupled to the vessel, and two divertor chambers coupled to the formation sections. A magnetic system includes quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components, quasi-dc mirror coils between the confinement chamber and the formation sections, and mirror plugs between the formation sections and the divertors. The formation sections include modular pulsed power formation systems enabling static and dynamic formation and acceleration of the FRCs. The FRC system further includes neutral atom beam injectors, pellet injectors, gettering systems, axial plasma guns and flux surface biasing electrodes. The beam injectors are preferably angled toward the midplane of the chamber. In operation, FRC plasma parameters including plasma thermal energy, total particle numbers, radius and trapped magnetic flux, are sustainable at or about a constant value without decay during neutral beam injection.

A high performance field reversed configuration (FRC) system includes a central confinement vessel, two diametrically opposed reversed-field-theta-pinch formation sections coupled to the vessel, and two divertor chambers coupled to the formation sections. A magnetic system includes quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components, quasi-dc mirror coils between the confinement chamber and the formation sections, and mirror plugs between the formation sections and the divertors. The formation sections include modular pulsed power formation systems enabling static and dynamic formation and acceleration of the FRCs. The FRC system further includes neutral atom beam injectors, pellet injectors, gettering systems, axial plasma guns and flux surface biasing electrodes. The beam injectors are preferably angled toward the midplane of the chamber. In operation, FRC plasma parameters including plasma thermal energy, total particle numbers, radius and trapped magnetic flux, are sustainable at or about a constant value without decay during neutral beam injection.

Analytical instrument systems, components, and methods for stabilizing discharge formation are described. A spark gap device includes a first planar coil, defining an axis normal to a coil plane and defining a first aperture substantially centered about the axis. The spark gap device includes a second planar coil, offset from the first planar coil along the axis and substantially parallel with the coil plane, the second planar coil defining a second aperture substantially centered about the axis. The spark gap device also includes a conductive element disposed in the first aperture and substantially aligned with the axis.

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.

A fusion reactor with a spherical shaped confinement apparatus comprising a plurality of conductive coils that form a rotating negative potential well about a confined center at the center of the system, confining electrons expelled from a surrounding electron discharging grid to obtain a curved spherical rotation pattern to the electrons confined with in the confinement apparatus. The confinement apparatus is also rotated by a multipolar rotating electric machine to promote improved confinement by reducing the amount of time for electrons to escape confinement and shaping the particles in a more curved and spherical shape to allow converging and diverging geodesic effects to enhance tighter and denser particle confinement. This fusion concept reduces the amount of energy needed to operate while minimizing magnetic reconnection disturbances, allowing the NESAR to be the world's first reactor to meet the break-even point of fusion with possible gravitational effects.