Patent Number: 044341300
Section: summary

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to the generation of energy from fusions of atomic nuclei which are caused to travel towards each other along collision courses through a compressed sheath of spiraling electrons. BACKGROUND ART It is known that individual nuclear particles are so constituted as to permit fusing of the lighter nuclei. Fusion of light nuclei is accompanied by release of energy. Of particular interest is any fusion reaction in which power can be produced in quantities greater than the power consumed in establishing and maintaining the reaction. There are over 30 reactions now known to be possible. The most appealing reactions are those which involve the heavy hydrogen isotopes, deuterium and tritium, because they tend to have the largest fusion reaction cross section at the lowest energies. Many possible reactions are well known. For example, Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition, Reinhold Company, New York, N.Y., 1976, at page 1656, et seq., discusses various possibilities for producing a net gain in power from fusion reactions and briefly describes some of the attempts to perform such reactions with a net power gain. Plasma research has received and is receiving concentrated attention, but the formidable task of plasma containment has yet to be solved. In avoidance of the problems of containment, a more recent approach involves laser-induced fusion. In its simplest form a focused energetic laser beam is brought to bear on a small deuterium-tritium pellet for heating to fusion temperatures. Efforts on this and on other fronts, such as those involving containment, have been steady in response to high incentives. Thus, while many of the possibilities have long been known and have been widely attached through various approaches towards achieving net power gain from fusion, the challenge remains unsatisfied. The obvious advantage of fusion power is that it offers the promise of being able to utilize an essentially inexhaustible low cost fuel supply. This prospect is a growing challenge as world demands for energy continue to increase. A further significant advantage is that optimum fuels may be chosen to produce reaction products which are completely non-toxic and thus permit energy producing operations compatible with the most demanding environmental requirements. Reactions free of neutron generation can produce energy in a way that is shieldable for personnel protection simply by the presence of structures necessary for carrying out the fusion reaction. In application of this invention, the individual reactants are combined in such a way that they are not individually self-reactant. This permits definitive choice and execution of neutronless fusion. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a new method and system of atomic fusion for power generation. It is based upon the control of oppositely directed ions by a spiral electron sheath as to promote fusion. Appropriately high velocity fusible ion beams are directed along head-on collision paths in an annular zone wherein beam compression by electrostatic focusing of a sheath of spiraling electrons forces the ions to follow a path where the potential gradient is minimum. The invention involves generating two beams of fusible ions which are projected towards each other along cylindrical paths determined by the electrical field produced by a compressed spiral sheath of electrons traversing a cylindrical reaction zone. In one embodiment, a steady radial electric field is imposed on an electron beam to compress the beam and reduce the radius of the spiral paths for enhancing electron density. Ions of one beam travel the same cylindrical zone as ions of the other beam. Energy produced by the nuclear reactions resulting from such collisions is then extracted by means of heat exchange or deceleration processes. Beam compression to concentrate the electrons is achieved through electrostatic focusing. The electron distribution across the electron sheath will not be uniform and will exhibit a zone minimum gradient which defines the location of the path the ions will be forced to follow. Thus, two independent streams of ions can be propelled in opposite directions in the same space to maximize fusion-producing collisions. Energy production involving the present invention, through choice of fuels, can be free of hazards of undesirable radiation and avoid the production of toxic wastes that have characterized operations involving fission as practiced. Because of this characteristic of the present invention, it lends itself particularly to reactors of the size of drive systems for automobiles, aircraft or smaller vehicles, as well as satisfying the utility needs for living quarters and for industry. As will be hereinafter noted, several fusion reactions are known which involve the use of fuels which are plentiful and available throughout the world. The isotope deuterium is plentiful in the sea. Helium-3, boron and lithium are known to be in such supply as to warrant labelling them and deuterium as fuels which are essentially inexhaustible. By directing ions of such fuel at appropriate energies along collision paths, a measure of control is provided in energy production from fusion reactions that has heretofore not appeared possible. With the foregoing points in mind, embodiments of the invention and unique systems employed for carrying out fusion reactions will now be described.