Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to devices and methods useful in replicating the magnetohydrodynamics occurring in a variety of astrophysical objects. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices and methods useful in performing such replication in a low-energy, controlled laboratory environment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Approximately ninety-six percent of the observable universe is made up of matter that is in a plasma state. As such, in an effort to better understand the universe, the scientific community has dedicated a significant amount of time, energy, and resources to the generation and study of plasmas. The results of some of these efforts are discussed below. 
     Scientific studies have indicated that plasmas of widely different geometric scales experience similar phenomena. For example, similar types of plasma phenomena are observed in galactic clusters, galactic formations, galactic halos, black hole ergospheres, other stellar objects, and planetary atmospheres. In order to take advantage of this apparent geometric-scale-independence of plasmas, scientific devices have been manufactured that attempt to replicate the motion of the ions in large-scale plasmas (e.g., plasmas of galactic formations) on geometric scales that are containable in an earthly laboratory setting. 
     To date, these devices have utilized liquids (i.e., liquid sodium) or charged liquids (i.e., charged liquid sodium) to model large astrophysical plasmas. These devices have also relied upon the use of strong magnetic fields to guide ions in the liquids or charged liquids along paths that ions in a plasma would follow. 
     The above notwithstanding, by definition, actual plasmas are gaseous. In other words, actual plasmas do not contain matter in a liquid or charged liquid state and using ions in liquids or charged liquids to replicate the behavior of ions in a plasma may have shortcomings. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide novel devices capable of simulating the magnetohydrodynamics of large-scale plasmas in a non-liquid medium. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by certain embodiments of the present invention. For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a magnetohydrodynamic simulator is provided. The magnetohydrodynamic simulator includes a plasma container. The magnetohydrodynamic simulator also includes an first ionizable gas substantially contained within the plasma container. In addition, the magnetohydrodynamic simulator also includes a first loop positioned adjacent to the plasma container, wherein the first loop includes a gap, a first electrical connection on a first side of the gap, a second electrical connection of a second side of the gap, and a first material having at least one of low magnetic susceptibility and high conductivity. The magnetohydrodynamic simulator further includes an electrically conductive first coil wound about the plasma container and through the first loop. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, an embodiment of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a plurality of ribs included in a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of ribs and other components included in an MHD simulator according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the ribs illustrated in  FIG. 1 , along with other components included in the MHD simulator that includes these ribs. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a rib according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a plurality of ribs  10  included in a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulator  12  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of ribs  10  and other components included in an MHD simulator  12  according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the ribs  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , along with other components included in the MHD simulator  12  that includes the ribs  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the MHD simulator  12  includes a plasma container  14  positioned substantially at the center thereof. The plasma container  14  may be of any geometry. However, a substantially spherical plasma container  14  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . Also, although the plasma container  14  may be supported within the MHD simulator  12  in any manner that will become apparent to one of skill in the art upon practicing one or more embodiments of the present invention, the plasma container  14  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  is connected to some of the ribs  10  via a plurality of supports  16 . 
     The plasma container  14  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  has a hollow interior and a solid exterior made of drawn crystal. However, other materials may also be used to form the exterior according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
     Contained within the plasma container  14  are one or more ionizable gases. For example, argon, nitrogen, helium, xenon, neon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and/or krypton may be contained within the plasma container  14 , as may a variety of other gases. Typically, before one or more gases are added to the plasma container  14 , the interior of the plasma container  14  is evacuated to a vacuum. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the MHD device  12  includes an ionization source  18  that is focused on the plasma container  14 . More specifically, the ionization source  18  is focused on a substantially central portion of the plasma container  14 . According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the ionization source  18  is situated such that an energy beam emitted therefrom (e.g., a laser beam illustrated as the dashed line in  FIG. 2 ) strikes the plasma container  14  without contacting any of the ribs  10  included in the MHD simulator  12 . 
     Although the ionization source  18  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is a laser, other sources of ionization energy may be used to ionize the one or more gases in the plasma container  14 . For example, a radio frequency (RF) ionization source may be used. Also, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, one or more lasers may be used, as may one or more mirrors to direct the laser beam(s) to the plasma container  14 , typically through one of the poles (N, S) of the MHD simulator  12  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Lasers that may be used include phase conjugate laser, continuous lasers, and pulsed lasers. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a rib  10  according to certain embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the rib  10  is a loop that, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is positioned adjacent to the plasma container  14 . However, rather than being closed, the loop includes a gap  20 . On either side of the gap  20  are electrical connections  22  (i.e., electrical contact points) to which electrical wires (not illustrated) may be connected. 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the ribs  10  are constructed to include loops of conductive material wrapped around a solid rib  10 . In addition, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the ribs  10  are formed from loops of conductive material to form coil structures with a plurality of layers. Some of these layers, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, are used to monitor the coil&#39;s field interactions by inductive processes. 
     Also, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, another independent winding is added to the coil inside the ribs  10 . According to such embodiments, the coil is typically toroidal and the independent winding is used for monitor purposes through induction processes. For example, using such induction processes, pulse rate, amperage, voltage levels, etc. may be monitored. 
     Typically, the above-discussed ribs  10  are made from materials having low magnetic susceptibility and/or high conductivity. For example, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the ribs  10  include aluminum. Also, the cross-section of the rib  10  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, is substantially square. However, other geometries are also within the scope of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the rib  10  includes a proximate arcuate portion  24  and a distal arcuate portion  26  (relative to the plasma container  14  when the MHD simulator  12  is in operation). The rib  10  illustrated in  FIG. 4  also includes a pair of substantially linear portions  28 ,  30 , each connected to both the proximate arcuate portion  24  and the distal arcuate portions  26 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the proximate arcuate portion  24  and the distal arcuate portion  26  lie substantially along portions of the circumferences of two substantially concentric circles of different sizes (not illustrated). According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the proximate arcuate portion  24  and the distal arcuate portion  26  each extend across approximately 70.52 angular degrees. However, according to other embodiments of the present invention, the arcuate portions  24 ,  26  may extend across additional or fewer angular degrees. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the ribs  10  illustrated at the top and bottom of the MHD simulator  12  extend across approximately 51.26 angular degrees while the ribs  10  illustrated in the middle of the MHD simulator  12  extend across approximately 19.47 angular degrees. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , there are twelve duos  32  of ribs  10  that are substantially atop each other. Each rib  10  included in each duo  32  is substantially coplanar with the other rib  10  in the duo  32 . As also illustrated in  FIG. 1 , if a plasma container  14  were included in the portion of the MHD simulator  12  illustrated therein, each duo  32  of ribs  10  would be positioned adjacent to the plasma container  14 . Also, the twelve duos  32  would be positioned at substantially equal intervals about the plasma container  14 . It should be noted that, according to alternate embodiments of the present invention, more or less than twelve duos  32  are included. These duos  32  are typically also placed at substantially equal intervals about the plasma container  14 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates two quartets  34  of ribs  10 . Like the ribs  10  in the duos  32  discussed above, each rib  10  in each quartet  34  is substantially coplanar with the other ribs  10  in the quartet  34 . According to certain embodiments of the present invention, twelve quartets  34  are positioned about a plasma container  14  at substantially equal intervals. However, the inclusion of additional or fewer than twelve quartets  34  is also within the scope of certain embodiments of the present invention. 
     In addition to the components discussed above, the MHD simulator  12  illustrated in  FIG. 2  includes a top interior coil  36 , an upper middle interior coil  38 , a lower middle interior coil  40 , and a bottom interior coil  42 . Each of these coils  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  is wound about the plasma container  14  and traverses through at least one of the ribs  10 . 
     Also illustrated in  FIG. 2  is an exterior coil  44  that is wound about the plasma container  14  and that does not traverse through any of the ribs  10 . Rather the exterior coil  44  also winds about the ribs  10 . According to certain embodiments of the present invention, instead of a single exterior coil  44  being utilized, each of the inner coils  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  has an associated exterior coil (not illustrated) that is wound about the set of ribs through which the inner coil in question  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  traverses. 
     Each of these coils  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  typically includes one or more conductive materials. For example, copper is used according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
     As discussed above, each rib  10  includes a pair of electrical connections  22 . These electrical connections  22  may be connected to one or more wires and/or electrical devices. Also, it should be noted that each of the above-discussed coils  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  may be connected to one or more wires, electrical circuits, and/or electronic devices. 
     Certain circuits and/or devices according to embodiments of the present invention are used to switch various current and/or voltage levels to individual or pluralities of ribs  10 , inner coils  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 , and/or outer coils  44  discussed above. This switching, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, produces one or more electromagnetic fields, some of which may be orthogonal to other fields and/or which may be rotating. 
     In effect, in the embodiments of the present invention discussed above, each rib  10  may effectively become a one-loop or a multiple-loop electromagnet that is pulsed in sequence to produce a rotating magnetic field that would be vertically oriented in the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Also, the inner and/or outer coils  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , either individually, in pairs, etc., may be used to create one or more substantially horizontal magnetic fields in  FIG. 1 . 
     In order to generate the above-mentioned fields, the ribs  10  and coils  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , may be operably connected to, for example, off-the-shelf current-limited power supplies. Depending on the embodiment of the present invention, single or multiple ribs  10  may be powered with either a single or multiple power supplies. 
     Computers and electronic switches are also used according to certain embodiments of the present invention to control various combinations of power supply, coil, and/or rib  10  connections. For example, a rapid MOSFET switching circuit may be used to control the flow of current to one or more of the above-discussed coils  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 . Also, a digital interface to a control computer may be provided to give a scientist a graphical interface to simplify operation of the MHD simulator  12 . 
     In addition to the above-listed components, sensors and/or other devices may be included in the MHD simulator  12  in order to quantify what is happening in the plasma container  14  and to monitor and control the MHD simulator  12  itself. For example, Langmuir probes may be included to measure electron temperature, electron density, and/or plasma potential. Also, electrometers may be included to measure electrostatic fields, current and/or voltage may be monitored and/or recorded through outputs on the power supplies, and Hall Effect sensors and/or the above-mentioned monitoring coils may be used to measure magnetic fields. In addition, temperatures within the MHD simulator  12  may be measured using thermocouple probes and/or “Heat Spy” devices. Also, UV, IR, and visible light bands may be recorded using appropriate CCD cameras and/or photomultiplier tubes. Such UV, visible, and/or IR imaging sensors may be configured with telescopes, endoscopes and/or fiber-optic bundle systems to relay the images to cameras or other detectors. In addition, two or more rod lens endoscopes may be arranged so that images can be taken as stereo pairs, thus allowing for detailed photogrammetry of plasma shapes and the like within the plasma container  14 . Typically, the telescope would be arranged so that its optical path is at right angles to the laser optical path. When observations are needed, a scientist may move a right prism on a swing arm into the laser optical path. 
     Other sensors may also be included to conduct certain experiments. These sensors may be sensors capable of sensing X-ray flux, gamma ray flux, neutron flux, proton flux, alpha particle flux (e.g., using Geiger counters), a scintillation counter, and/or various other particle counters. 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, providing current to the ribs  10  and/or the inner and outer coils  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , in a properly timed sequence and in specific directions generates rotating double-toroidal flow patterns in the highly ionized plasma contained in the plasma container  14 . 
     More specifically, in operation, one or more ionizable gases are placed in the plasma container  14 . The plasma container  14  is then placed in the center cavity of the substantially spherical structure formed by the ribs  10  and inner and outer coils  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , discussed above. The ionization source  18  is then energized and used to ionize the gases in the plasma container  14 . Pulsing of the inner and outer coils is then initiated at the same time as the rib pulsing. 
     One representative reason for generating the above-mentioned rotating double-toroidal flow patterns in the highly ionized plasma contained in the plasma container  14  is the result of evidence that this pattern is found in the universe at multiple scales. For example, there is evidence that the circulation of matter around galaxies, including black holes&#39; ergospheres, is closely modeled to such a double torus pattern, which is predicted by the Haramein-Rauscher solution to Einstein&#39;s field equation. Furthermore, examples of that pattern are found in quasars, pulsars and the Coriolis forces of the plasma dynamics surrounding our sun and planets such as Saturn and Jupiter. Devices according to certain embodiments of the present invention, allow for such patterns to be generated in a low-energy lab environment. 
     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 3