US3742219A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High energy neutral particle beam source
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
•
Filing: 1971-06-23
•
Granted: 1973-06-26
•
Expires: 1991-06-23
Abstract
Abstract An ion source directs a beam of low energy positive ions through a first gas charge exchange cell forming a beam of neutral particles with some negative ions therein. The neutral particle component of the beam is then directed through an aligned series of similar charge exchange cells in each of which some of the neutral particles are converted into negative ions. A magnetic field is applied to the mixed particle beam emerging from each cell to deflect the negative ions so as to converge to form a common negative ion beam which is passed through a charged particle accelerator to yield a high energy negative ion beam then through a gas cell to strip electron therefrom forming a high energy neutral particle beam which may then be directed into the magnetic containment zone of a controlled fusion reactor to be ionized and trapped to form a plasma therein.
Inventors
- 👤 R Post
- 👤 C Damm
- 👤 J Osher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:22
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
Apparatus for producing a single beam of energetic neutral light nuclide particles comprising: a single positive ion source for producing and directing a beam of relatively low energy positive ions of said light nuclide along a beam path; a first charge exchange cell disposed along said beam path having a first charge exchange medium disposed therein effective to interact with and convert a substantial proportion of said positive ions into a beam of relatively low-energy neutral and negative ion particles traveling along said beam path; at least one additional charge exchange cell disposed sEquentially in spaced relation to said first charge exchange cell along said beam path and having a charge exchange medium disposed therein effective to interact with and convert a proportion of said low-energy neutral particles into negative ion particles traveling as a beam together with residual neutral particles along said beam path; means for applying a magnetic field to each of the spacial regions between said charge exchange cells and at the exit to the last of said cells effective to deflect said negative ions from said beam path to beam paths which converge in a common region; means for focusing said ions in said common region to form a combined beam of negative ions directed along a common beam path; accelerator means disposed along said common beam path for accelerating said low-energy negative ions to provide a single beam of relatively high-energy negative ions traveling along said common beam path; and charge exchange stripper cell means disposed along said common beam path having a charge exchange medium disposed therein effective to interact with said relatively high-energy negative ions to strip an electron therefrom to yield a single beam of relatively high-energy neutral particles traveling along said common beam path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
Apparatus for producing a single beam of energetic neutral light nuclide particles comprising: a single positive ion source for producing and directing a beam of relatively low energy positive ions of said light nuclide along a beam path; a first charge exchange cell disposed along said beam path having a first charge exchange medium disposed therein effective to interact with and convert a substantial proportion of said positive ions into a beam of relatively low-energy neutral and negative ion particles traveling along said beam path; at least one additional charge exchange cell disposed sEquentially in spaced relation to said first charge exchange cell along said beam path and having a charge exchange medium disposed therein effective to interact with and convert a proportion of said low-energy neutral particles into negative ion particles traveling as a beam together with residual neutral particles along said beam path; means for applying a magnetic field to each of the spacial regions between said charge exchange cells and at the exit to the last of said cells effective to deflect said negative ions from said beam path to beam paths which converge in a common region; means for focusing said ions in said common region to form a combined beam of negative ions directed along a common beam path; accelerator means disposed along said common beam path for accelerating said low-energy negative ions to provide a single beam of relatively high-energy negative ions traveling along said common beam path; and charge exchange stripper cell means disposed along said common beam path having a charge exchange medium disposed therein effective to interact with said relatively high-energy negative ions to strip an electron therefrom to yield a single beam of relatively high-energy neutral particles traveling along said common beam path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said charge exchange medium disposed in the first and in the additional charge exchange cell comprises vapor of a material selected from the group consisting of cesium, sodium, potassium and rubidium and said positive ions comprise a material selected from the group consisting of 1H , D , T , 3He and 6Li .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said charge exchange medium disposed in the first and additional charge exchange cell comprises cesium metal vapor and said positive ions comprise a material selected from the group consisting of 1H , D and T having energies in the range of about 750 eV + or - 100 eV, 1.5 keV + or - 100 eV and 2.25 keV + or - 100 eV, respectively, wherefor resonant charge exchange occurs to produce enhanced proportions of D ions in the exit beams therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the density of said charge exchange medium is in the range of about 1 X 1015 to about 3 X 1015 cesium atoms per square cm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the density of said charge exchange medium is about 2 X 1015 cesium atoms square cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the charge exchange medium in said charge exchange stripper cell means comprises a gaseous or vapor form of a material selected from the group consisting of cesium, potassium, rubidium, hydrogen and water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said additional charge exchange cell is employed in numbers in the range of 1 to about 6 individual cells disposed in sequential spaced arrangement along said beam path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said accelerator means is adapted to accelerate said negative ions to an energy level in the range of about 100 keV to about 1.5 MeV.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 including a vacuum vessel enclosing the components defined therein, said vacuum vessel having a beam exit port adapted for coupling to the vacuum vessel of a controlled fusion reactor, said port defining an opening permitting passage of said energetic neutral particle beam into the vacuum vessel of said reactor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |