Method and apparatus for controlling charged particles

Claim 1

A method of confining positively charged particles comprising the steps of: (a) generating a magnetic field within a region wherein all the cusps of said magnetic field are point cusps; (b) injecting electrons within said region and using said generated magnetic field to confine electrons within said region and so to generate a negative potential well; and (c) injecting positively charged particles within said region and using said negative potential well to confine said positively charged particles within said region; and (d) maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said step (a) further comprises generating a surface cusp magnetic field having edge contours corresponding to a superposition of at least two truncated polyhedra.

Claim 2

A method of confining positively charged particles comprising the steps of: (a) generating a magnetic field within a region wherein all the cusps of said magnetic field are point cusps; (b) injecting electrons within said region and using said generated magnetic field to confine electrons within said region and so to generate a negative potential well; and (c) injecting positively charged particles within said region and using said negative potential well to confine said positively charged particles within said region; and (d) maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said step (a) further comprises generating a surface cusp magnetic field having edge contours corresponding to a superposition of at least two truncated polyhedra.

Claim 3

A method of confining positively charged particles comprising the steps of: (a) generating a magnetic field within a region wherein all the cusps of said magnetic field are point cusps; (b) injecting electrons within said region and using said generated magnetic field to confine electrons within said region and so to generate a negative potential well; and (c) injecting positively charged particles within said region and using said negative potential well to confine said positively charged particles within said region; and (d) maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said step (a) further comprises generating a surface cusp magnetic field having edge contours corresponding to a superposition of at least two polyhedra.

Claim 4

A method of confining positively charged particles comprising the steps of: (a) generating a magnetic field within a region wherein all the cusps of said magnetic field are point cusps; (b) injecting electrons within said region and using said generated magnetic field to confine electrons within said region and so to generate a negative potential well; and (c) injecting positively charged particles within said region and using said negative potential well to confine said positively charged particles within said region; and (d) maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said step (a) further comprises generating a surface cusp magnetic field having edge contours corresponding to a superposition of at least two polyhedra.

Claim 5

A method of confining positively charged particles comprising the steps of: (a) generating a magnetic field within a region wherein all the cusps of said magnetic field are point cusps; (b) injecting electrons within said region and using said generated magnetic field to confine electrons within said region and so to generate a negative potential well; and (c) injecting positively charged particles within said region and using said negative potential well to confine said positively charged particles within said region; and (d) maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said step (a) further comprises generating a surface cusp magnetic field having edge contours corresponding to a superposition of at least a polyhedron and a truncated polyhedron.

Claim 6

A method of confining positively charged particles comprising the steps of: (a) generating a magnetic field within a region wherein all the cusps of said magnetic field are point cusps; (b) injecting electrons within said region and using said generated magnetic field to confine electrons within said region and so to generate a negative potential well; and (c) injecting positively charged particles within said region and using said negative potential well to confine said positively charged particles within said region; and (d) maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said step (a) further comprises generating a surface cusp magnetic field having edge contours corresponding to a superposition of at least a polyhedron and a truncated polyhedron.

Claim 7

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent faces of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron; and wherein said electron injecting means is arranged to inject said electrons through one of said point cusps along a first line corresponding to an axis of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedra.

Claim 8

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent faces of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron; and wherein said electron injecting means is arranged to inject said electrons through one of said point cusps along a first line corresponding to an axis of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedra.

Claim 10

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent faces of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedra; and wherein said electron injecting means is arranged to inject said electrons through one of said point cusps along a first line intersecting and axis of said octahedron truncated regular polyhedron at an angle.

Claim 11

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent faces of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedra; and wherein said electron injecting means is arranged to inject said electrons through one of said point cusps along a first line intersecting and axis of said octahedron truncated regular polyhedron at an angle.

Claim 12

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent face of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron; and wherein said charged particle injecting means injects said particles in a beam along a line corresponding to an axis of said octahedron or truncated polyhedron.

Claim 13

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent face of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron; and wherein said charged particle injecting means injects said particles in a beam along a line corresponding to an axis of said octahedron or truncated polyhedron.

Claim 15

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent faces of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron/ and wherein said charged particle injecting means is arranged to inject said charged particles through one of said point cusps.

Claim 16

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent faces of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron/ and wherein said charged particle injecting means is arranged to inject said charged particles through one of said point cusps.

Claim 18

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent faces of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron; wherein said charged particles injecting means injects said particles in a beam along a line corresponding to an axis of said octahedron or truncated polyhedron; and wherein said injection means includes means for injecting said beam with rotation.

Claim 19

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent faces of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron; wherein said charged particles injecting means injects said particles in a beam along a line corresponding to an axis of said octahedron or truncated polyhedron; and wherein said injection means includes means for injecting said beam with rotation.

Claim 20

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent faces of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron; and wherein said charged particle injecting means is arranged to inject said charged particles along a second annulus through one of said point cusps, the central axis of said second annulus corresponding to an axis of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron.

Claim 21

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means includes current carrying means for carrying an electric current, said current carrying means disposed on edges of one of an octahedron or a truncated regular polyhedron such that adjacent faces of said polyhedron have opposing magnetic polarities; wherein said magnetic field generating means generates only point cusps at positions corresponding to the centers of faces of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron; and wherein said charged particle injecting means is arranged to inject said charged particles along a second annulus through one of said point cusps, the central axis of said second annulus corresponding to an axis of said octahedron or truncated regular polyhedron.

Claim 23

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means is further operable to generate a magnetic field conforming substantially in shape to a superposition of at least two polyhedra.

Claim 24

An apparatus for controlling positively charged particles comprising: means for generating a magnetic field within a region, all the cusps of said magnetic field being point cusps; means for injecting electrons into the center of said region for forming a negative potential well within said region; means for injecting said positively charged particles into said negative potential well, said positively charged particles maintained within said region by said negative potential well; and means for maintaining the number of electrons greater than the number of positively charged particles; wherein said magnetic field generating means is further operable to generate a magnetic field conforming substantially in shape to a superposition of at least two polyhedra.

Claim 27

A device for producing collisional reactions comprising: (a) means for generating a magnetic field within a region, said means including magnetic field coils positioned on edges of a structure forming a polyhedral figure, each vertex of which is surrounded by an even number of faces, said field coils carrying currents such that adjacent faces of said polyhedral figure having opposing magnetic polarities, (b) means for injecting electrons within said region, said electrons having gyro radii effectively smaller than the radius of said region such that said electrons are trapped within said region by said magnetic field, said trapped electrons forming a negative potential well within a volum of said region; (c) means for injecting positively charged ions within said region, said ions having gyro radii effectively larger than a radius of said region, such that said positively charged ions are not trapped within said region by said magnetic field, said positively charged ions confined within said region by electric potential gradient forces resulting from said negative potential well, the number of electrons within said region maintained larger than the number of said positively charged ions, and said positively charged ions having energies sufficiently great within said region to produce collisional reactions.

Claim 28

A device for producing collisional reactions comprising: (a) means for generating a magnetic field within a region, said means including magnetic field coils positioned on edges of a structure forming a polyhedral figure, each vertex of which is surrounded by an even number of faces, said field coils carrying currents such that adjacent faces of said polyhedral figure having opposing magnetic polarities, (b) means for injecting electrons within said region, said electrons having gyro radii effectively smaller than the radius of said region such that said electrons are trapped within said region by said magnetic field, said trapped electrons forming a negative potential well within a volum of said region; (c) means for injecting positively charged ions within said region, said ions having gyro radii effectively larger than a radius of said region, such that said positively charged ions are not trapped within said region by said magnetic field, said positively charged ions confined within said region by electric potential gradient forces resulting from said negative potential well, the number of electrons within said region maintained larger than the number of said positively charged ions, and said positively charged ions having energies sufficiently great within said region to produce collisional reactions.

Claim 37

A method for producing collisional reactions comprising the steps of: (a) generatiang a magnetic field within a region by passing current through magnetic field coils positioned on edges of a structure forming a polyhedral figure, each vertex of which is surrounded by an even number of faces, said currents such that adjacent faces of said polyhedral figure have opposing magnetic polarities, (b) injecting electrons within said region, said electrons having gyro radii effectively smaller than a radius of said region such that said electrons are trapped within said region by said magnetic field, said trapped electrons forming a negative potential well within a volume of said region; and (c) injecting positively charged ions within said region, said ions having gyro radii effectively larger than said radius of said region, such that said positively charged ions are not trapped within said region by said magnetic field, said positively charged ions confined within said region by electric potential gradient forces resulting from said negative potential well, the number of electrons within said region maintained larger than the number of said positively charged ions, and said positively charged ions having energies sufficiently great within said region to produce collisional reactions.

Claim 38

A method for producing collisional reactions comprising the steps of: (a) generatiang a magnetic field within a region by passing current through magnetic field coils positioned on edges of a structure forming a polyhedral figure, each vertex of which is surrounded by an even number of faces, said currents such that adjacent faces of said polyhedral figure have opposing magnetic polarities, (b) injecting electrons within said region, said electrons having gyro radii effectively smaller than a radius of said region such that said electrons are trapped within said region by said magnetic field, said trapped electrons forming a negative potential well within a volume of said region; and (c) injecting positively charged ions within said region, said ions having gyro radii effectively larger than said radius of said region, such that said positively charged ions are not trapped within said region by said magnetic field, said positively charged ions confined within said region by electric potential gradient forces resulting from said negative potential well, the number of electrons within said region maintained larger than the number of said positively charged ions, and said positively charged ions having energies sufficiently great within said region to produce collisional reactions.