A METHOD FOR AMPLIFYING ENERGY AND A POWER AMPLIFIER

Abstract

A power amplifier for amplifying power of electromagnetic radiation is disclosed. The power amplifier comprising: a first gaseous fuel component being deuterium; a second gaseous fuel component, the second component being another gas than deuterium, the second gaseous fuel component being selected such that a nucleus mass reducing isotope shift in deuterium is less energy requiring than a nucleus mass increasing isotope shift in the second fuel component; and a fuel compartment (12) containing a mixture of the first and second gaseous fuel components. Also a method for amplifying power of electromagnetic radiation is disclosed.

Claims

1. A power amplifier for amplifying power of electromagnetic radiation, the power amplifier comprising: a first gaseous fuel component being deuterium; a second gaseous fuel component, the second component being another gas than deuterium, the second gaseous fuel component being selected such that a nucleus mass reducing isotope shift in deuterium is less energy requiring than a nucleus mass increasing isotope shift in the second fuel component; and a fuel compartment (12) containing a mixture of the first and second gaseous fuel components, wherein the mixture is gaseous before being subjected for the input electromagnetic radiation.

2. The power amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the second fuel component is gaseous nitrogen.

3. The power amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the second fuel component is gaseous .sup.14N.

4. The power amplifier according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein an initial ratio between the first and second fuel components is within 40/60 mol percentage to 60/40 mol percentage, preferably 50/50 mol percentage.

5. The power amplifier according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the fuel compartment (12) is gas tight for the first and second gaseous fuel components.

6. The power amplifier according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the fuel compartment (12) is a closed compartment.

7. The power amplifier according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the fuel compartment (12) comprises a radiation input surface (14) permeable for input electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of 300 MHz to 300 GHz, preferably 2 to 3 GHz, more preferably 2.5 GHz.

8. The power amplifier according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fuel compartment (12) comprises a radiation output surface (16) permeable for output electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of 500 GHz to 1.5 THz.

9. The power amplifier according to claims 8 and 9, wherein the radiation input surface (14) is a first major surface of the fuel compartment (12) and wherein the radiation output surface (16) is a second major surface of the fuel compartment, wherein the first and second major surfaces are preferably opposing each other.

10. The power amplifier according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the power amplifier further comprises a microwave radiator (20) configured to subject the fuel compartment (12) to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of 300 MHz to 300 GHz, preferably 2 to 3 GHz, more preferably 2.5 GHz.

11. The power amplifier according to any one of claims 1-10, further comprising two or more spark inducing pins (18).

12. The power amplifier according to claim 11, wherein the two or more spark inducing pins (18) are connected to a power source in order to apply a potential difference between the two or more spark inducing pins (18).

13. A method for amplifying power of electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising: subjecting (S302) a fuel mixture to input electromagnetic radiation, the fuel mixture comprising a first and a second fuel component, the first fuel component being gaseous deuterium and the second component being another gas than deuterium, wherein the mixture is gaseous before being subjected for the input electromagnetic radiation, for producing: a nucleus mass reducing isotope shift in the deuterium, a nucleus mass increasing isotope shift in the second fuel component, and output electromagnetic radiation resulting from the nucleus mass increasing isotope shift; wherein the nucleus mass reducing isotope shift in deuterium is less energy requiring than the nucleus mass increasing isotope shift in the second fuel component.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising confining (S300) the fuel mixture in a fuel compartment (12).

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the second fuel component is nitrogen.

16. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the second fuel component is .sup.14N.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13-16, wherein an initial ratio between the first and second fuel components is within 40/60 mol percentage to 60/40 mol percentage, preferably 50/50 mol percentage.

18. The method according to any one of claims 13-17, wherein the input electromagnetic radiation has a frequency of 300 GHz to 300 MHz.

19. The method according to any one of claims 13-18, wherein the input electromagnetic radiation has a frequency of 2 to 3 GHz, preferably 2.5 GHz.

20. The method according to any one of claims 13-19, wherein the output electromagnetic radiation has a frequency of 500 GHz to 1.5 THz.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to appended drawings showing embodiments of the invention. The figures should not be considered limiting the invention to the specific embodiment; instead they are used for explaining and understanding the invention.

[0063] As illustrated in the figures, the sizes of layers and regions are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate the general structures of embodiments of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0064] FIG. 1 illustrates a gradient force as a function of /.sub.a.

[0065] FIG. 2 illustrates a power amplifier including a microwave radiator.

[0066] FIG. 3 illustrates a power amplifier.

[0067] FIG. 4 is a block scheme of a method for amplifying power of electromagnetic radiation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person.

[0069] FIG. 2 illustrates a power amplifier 10 in accordance with the present invention. Especially, the power amplifier 10 is configured to amplify power of electromagnetic radiation. The power amplifier 10 comprises a fuel compartment 12. The fuel compartment 12 contains a mixture of a first fuel component and a second fuel component. The mixture of the first and second fuel components are gaseous before being subjected for input electromagnetic radiation.

[0070] The first fuel component is deuterium. Deuterium is chosen since it may undergo a nucleus mass reducing isotope shift upon being subjected to input electromagnetic radiation. By subjecting deuterium to input electromagnetic radiation, energy transfer may be provided by means of the wave-particle acceleration process as was more extensively discussed above in the summary of the invention section. The frequency range of the input electromagnetic radiation will be discussed in more detail below. Upon transferring energy to the deuterium it may assume a high-energy state wherein neutrons of the deuterium will be affected and a nucleus mass reducing isotope shift may occur. The mass reducing isotope shift in deuterium originate from the reaction channel D+W.sub.s.fwdarw.n+.sup.1H, where D is deuterium, .sup.2H, and where .sup.1H is protium, i.e. hydrogen with no neutron in the nucleus. Further, W.sub.s is the threshold energy for the mass reducing isotope shift to occur. The threshold energy for inducing a mass reducing isotope shift in D is 2.25 MeV. It is noted that .sup.1H as well as .sup.2H, i.e. D, are stable isotopes per se. It is moreover noted that the reaction above may be induced by irradiation above the threshold energy.

[0071] In order to induce the mass reducing isotope shift in deuterium the fuel compartment 12 is configured to be subjected to input electromagnetic radiation. Further, by subjecting the mixture of the first and second fuel components to input electromagnetic radiation a plasma of the fuel mixture may be formed. The input electromagnetic radiation is advantageously chosen such that it is below the plasma resonance frequency of the first fuel component, hence the plasma resonance frequency of deuterium. In expressions (1) and (2) .sup.2=.sup.2 at the plasma resonance frequency. The plasma resonance frequency, .sub.ion, of an ion may be expressed as:

[00009]$\begin{array}{cc}{}_{\mathrm{ion}}=2.Math..Math..Math..Math.f_{\mathrm{ion}}=\sqrt{\frac{n_0.Math.e^2}{m_i.Math.{\mathrm{.Math.}}_0}}& \left(6\right)\end{array}$

wherein n.sub.0 is the number of ions per volume, e is the electric charge, m, is the effective mass of the ion and .sub.0 is the permittivity of free space. Hence, at normal air pressure the plasma resonance frequency of deuterium is 6.8.Math.10.sup.12 rad/s, hence 1.1 THz. By altering the pressure of the fuel mixture in the fuel compartment 12 the plasma resonance frequency of the deuterium may be altered. Thus, the input electromagnetic radiation may be chosen in the microwave range, 300 GHz to 300 MHz. By using a sufficient effect of input electromagnetic radiation the fuel mixture may be transformed into a plasma. Further, the sufficient effect of input electromagnetic radiation may induce the wave-particle acceleration process discussed above in the summary of the invention section such that the mass reducing isotope shift in deuterium may occur.

[0072] The power amplifier 10 may further comprise a microwave radiator 20. The microwave radiator 20 is configured to radiate microwaves in the range of 300 GHz to 300 MHz. Preferably, the microwave radiator 20 is configured to radiate microwaves in the range of 2 to 3 GHz. More preferably, the microwave radiator 20 is configured to radiate microwaves of 2.5 GHz. Using a microwave radiator 20 configured to radiate microwaves in the range of 2 to 3 GHz is advantageous since such microwave radiator 20 a readily available and relatively cheap since they today are used in microwave ovens. According to a non-limiting example the microwave radiator 20 may be a magnetron.

[0073] The power amplifier 10 may further be surrounded by a Faraday cage 30 for protecting the power amplifier 10 from radiating electromagnetic radiation to the surrounding environment. By surrounding the power amplifier 10 with the Faraday cage 30 overall efficiency of the power amplifier 10 may also be enhanced.

[0074] The second fuel component is another gas than deuterium. The second fuel component shall be chosen such that it may undergo a nucleus mass increasing isotope shift upon absorbing a neutron from the first fuel component upon the first fuel component undergoing the nucleus mass reducing isotope shift. Further, the second fuel component shall be chosen such that the available energy gained by the nucleus mass increasing isotope shift is greater than 2.25 MeV, the threshold energy for inducing the mass reducing isotope shift in D. Moreover, the resulting isotope of the nucleus mass increasing isotope shift in the second fuel component is preferably a stable isotope. According to a non-limiting example the second fuel component is nitrogen, preferably .sup.14N. .sup.14N is a good candidate for the second fuel component since after the nucleus mass increasing isotope shift .sup.14N is transformed to .sup.15N. Both .sup.14N and .sup.15N are stable isotopes of nitrogen. Further, .sup.14N is a good candidate for the second fuel component since the mass increasing isotope shift from .sup.14N to .sup.15N will make available 10.8 MeV of energy. Hence, almost 5 times more energy than is need for the mass reducing isotope shift from D to H. The 10.8 MeV of energy will be released in the form of electromagnetic waves/photons, herein denoted as output electromagnetic radiation. The output electromagnetic radiation will be radiated as a pulse of electromagnetic radiation, the pulse comprising a plurality of photons. Each photon of the pulse of output electromagnetic radiation having a frequency close to the plasma resonance frequency of the second fuel component. Hence, for example, the at least 10.8 MeV of energy that will be released at each mass increasing isotope shift from .sup.14N to .sup.15N will be released as a pulse of electromagnetic radiation comprising a number of photons instead of a single photon having 10.8 MeV.

[0075] In the above mentioned example wherein the first fuel component is deuterium and the second fuel component is .sup.14N, an initial ratio between the first and second fuel components is within 40/60 mol percentage to 60/40 mol percentage. Preferably, the initial ratio between the first and second fuel components is 50/50 mol percentage. Hence, for the case when the mass reducing isotope shift in the first fuel component is an isotope shift by one unit number and when the mass increasing isotope shift in the second fuel component is an isotope shift by one unit number a 50/50 mol percentage mixture is preferred. In this context the wording initial ratio shall be construed as a ratio between the first and second fuel components being initially present in the fuel compartment 12 in connection with manufacturing or installation of the power amplifier 10. Hence, the ratio between the first and second fuel components being present in the fuel compartment 12 before the power amplifier 10 has been used for amplifying energy of electromagnetic radiation. For other fuel mixtures other initial ratios between the first and second fuel components may be chosen. For example, if the first fuel component still is deuterium and if the second fuel component is a fuel component that may undergo a mass increasing isotope shift increasing the atomic mass by two units an initial ratio between the first and second fuel components may be 67 mol percentage of deuterium and 33 mol percentage of the second fuel component.

[0076] In the above mentioned example where the first fuel component is deuterium and the second fuel component is .sup.14N and the initial ratio between deuterium and .sup.14N is 50/50 mol percentage, theoretically a fuel compartment 12 comprising 0.35 liters of D.sub.2.sup.14N.sub.2 comprises 2000 kWh of energy.

[0077] The fuel compartment 12 is preferably gas tight for the first and second gaseous fuel components. The fuel compartment 12 may be a closed compartment. The fuel compartment 12 may be a pressure chamber. By means of the pressure chamber a pressure of the fuel mixture in the fuel compartment 12 may be adjusted and controlled. The pressure of the fuel mixture may be varied in order to adjust the plasma resonance frequency of the first fuel component, i.e. the deuterium.

[0078] The fuel compartment 12 comprises a radiation input surface 14 permeable for the input electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of 300 MHz to 300 GHz, preferably 2 to 3 GHz, more preferably 2.5 GHz. Further, the fuel compartment 12 comprises a radiation output surface 16 permeable for the output electromagnetic radiation. Hence, the input electromagnetic radiation may be directed towards the radiation input surface 14 and the output electromagnetic radiation may escape from the radiation output surface 16.

[0079] According to a non-limiting example, the fuel compartment 12 may be disc shaped. According to another non-limiting example, the fuel compartment 12 may be a cuboid. According to yet another non-limiting example, the fuel compartment 12 may be a tubular. In case the fuel compartment 12 is disc shaped or a cuboid, the radiation input surface 14 of the fuel compartment 12 is a first major surface of the fuel compartment 12. Further, in case the fuel compartment 12 is disc shaped or a cuboid, the radiation output surface 16 is a second major surface of the fuel compartment 12. The first and second major surfaces are preferably opposing each other. Together, the first and second major surfaces preferably constitutes 80-90% of the total surface area of the fuel compartment 12.

[0080] Hence, the present invention is directed towards the insight made by the inventor that energy of microwaves, e.g. emitted from an ordinary magnetron used in today's microwave ovens, may be amplified by directing such microwaves towards a fuel mixture comprising deuterium and another gaseous component. The deuterium of the fuel mixture undergoes a mass reducing isotope shift induced by the energy of the microwaves. As a result, there will be neutrons available for a second fuel component in the fuel mixture to undergo a mass increasing isotope shift. By proper selection of the second fuel component the energy gained by the mass increasing isotope shift is higher than the energy needed to induce the mass reducing isotope shift in the deuterium. The fuel mixture is preferably a gaseous fuel mixture, at least before being subjected for the input electromagnetic radiation. Preferably, the fuel mixture is comprised in a closed fuel compartment. The frequency of the input electromagnetic radiation directed towards the fuel mixture may be chosen based on the pressure of the fuel mixture.

[0081] A fuel compartment comprising the fuel mixture is easy to recycle since the rest products after usage is hydrogen and another gas, in the above mentioned example .sup.15N.

[0082] It may, with reference to FIG. 3 also be noted that the power amplifier 10 may be delivered as a separate entity basically formed of a fuel compartment 12. Such power amplifier 10 may be fitted into a device comprising a microwave radiator. Such a power amplifier 10 may be used for replacement of other power amplifiers which has reached their end of life or as retrofitting into different kinds of devices having microwave radiators.

[0083] With reference to FIG. 4, a method for amplifying power of electromagnetic radiation will now be discussed. The method comprising the following act. It is realized that the acts do not necessarily need to be performed in the order listed below. Confining S300 a fuel mixture in a fuel compartment 12. The fuel mixture comprising a first and a second fuel component. The first fuel component is deuterium in gas phase. The second fuel component is another gas than deuterium. The act of confining S300 the fuel mixture in the fuel compartment 12 may comprise selecting the second fuel component such that a nucleus mass reducing isotope shift in deuterium is less energy requiring than a nucleus mass increasing isotope shift in the second fuel component. Subjecting S302 the fuel mixture to input electromagnetic radiation such that a nucleus mass reducing isotope shift in the deuterium, a nucleus mass increasing isotope shift in the second fuel component, and output electromagnetic radiation resulting from the nucleus mass increasing isotope shift is produced. As a result, power of the output electromagnetic radiation may be amplified as compared with the power of the input electromagnetic radiation.

[0084] The second fuel component may be nitrogen, preferably .sup.14N.

[0085] The act of confining S300 the fuel mixture in the fuel compartment 12 may comprise confining 40-60 mol percentage of deuterium in the fuel compartment 12 and confining 60-40 mol percentage of the second fuel component in the fuel compartment 12. Preferably, especially in case of the second fuel component being .sup.14N, the act of confining S300 the fuel mixture in the fuel compartment 12 comprise confining 50 mol percentage of deuterium in the fuel compartment 12 and confining 50 mol percentage of the second fuel component in the fuel compartment 12.

[0086] The act of subjecting S302 the fuel mixture to input electromagnetic radiation may comprise subjecting the fuel mixture to input electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of 300 GHz to 300 MHz. Hence, subjecting the fuel mixture to microwave input electromagnetic radiation.

[0087] The act of subjecting S302 the fuel mixture to input electromagnetic radiation may comprise subjecting the fuel mixture to input electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of 2 to 3 GHz, preferably 2.5 GHz. Hence, subjecting the fuel mixture to microwave input electromagnetic radiation readily available from microwave radiators available for today's microwave ovens.

[0088] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

[0089] For example, the power amplifier 10 may comprise two or more spark inducing pins 18. This is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The pins 18 are preferable made of a metal, such as tungsten. By subjecting the pins for the input electromagnetic radiation a spark between the pins 18 may be generated. The pins 18 may also be connected to a power source in order to apply a potential difference between the pins for generating a spark between the pins 18. The generated spark may be used to induce a plasma in the fuel mixture.

[0090] Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.