US3723703A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser energized plasma source
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1971-02-08
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for creating and heating a plasma within a magnetic field. A solid pellet of material from which the plasma is to be made, such as a frozen pellet of hydrogen, is dropped into a magnetic containment field. A high power laser directed through the field is activated to highly energize the hydrogen. The laser beam is concentrated at a focal point so that maximum energy is transferred to the pellet. The pellet falls within a steady-state laser beam directed vertically through the focal point. The laser is pumped and fired when the pellet is in the focal point by signals from photomultipliers which detect the presence of a pellet just above the focal point.
Inventors
- 👤 A Lietzke
- 👤 K Ehlers
- 👤 I Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:07
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21B; G21B1/00; G21B1/11; G21B1/23; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A system for creating and heating a plasma within a magnetic field comprising: means for forming a magnetic field, means for dropping a pellet to be energized into said magnetic field, laser means for producing a beam of laser light when energized, means positioned intermediate said laser means and said magnetic field having a focal point substantially centrally located within said field for passing an output beam from said laser means and concentrating the beam at said focal point so that maximum energy is transferred from the beam to an associated pellet to be energized when such an associated pellet is located at said focal point, means positioned intermediate said focal point and said pellet dropping means for eliminating any associated pellets from said pellet dropping means not exactly aligned with said focal point, means in alignment with said focal point and said pellet dropping means for illuminating an entire line of fall of an associated pellet to be energized such that light is scattered from such an associated pellet along the entire line of fall, means for detecting light scattered from an associated pellet when such an associated pellet is at a point above or at said focal point, means responsive to said detecting means for activating said laser means upon detection of light scattered from such an associated pellet at the point above said focal point, and means responsive to said detecting means for firing said laser means upon detection of light scattered from such an associated pellet at said focal point thereby energizing such an associated pellet located at said focal point.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
265 words
A system for creating and heating a plasma within a magnetic field comprising: means for forming a magnetic field, means for dropping a pellet to be energized into said magnetic field, laser means for producing a beam of laser light when energized, means positioned intermediate said laser means and said magnetic field having a focal point substantially centrally located within said field for passing an output beam from said laser means and concentrating the beam at said focal point so that maximum energy is transferred from the beam to an associated pellet to be energized when such an associated pellet is located at said focal point, means positioned intermediate said focal point and said pellet dropping means for eliminating any associated pellets from said pellet dropping means not exactly aligned with said focal point, means in alignment with said focal point and said pellet dropping means for illuminating an entire line of fall of an associated pellet to be energized such that light is scattered from such an associated pellet along the entire line of fall, means for detecting light scattered from an associated pellet when such an associated pellet is at a point above or at said focal point, means responsive to said detecting means for activating said laser means upon detection of light scattered from such an associated pellet at the point above said focal point, and means responsive to said detecting means for firing said laser means upon detection of light scattered from such an associated pellet at said focal point thereby energizing such an associated pellet located at said focal point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system defined in claim 1, wherein said pellet eliminating means comprises at least one collimating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system defined in claim 1, wherein said illuminating means comprises second laser means for producing an output beam, and means for directing an output beam from said second laser means through said focal point, said pellet eliminating means, and to said pellet dropping means illuminating the line of fall of an associated pellet from said pellet dropping means through said focal point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system defined in claim 3, wherein said detecting means comprises photomultiplier means for producing output signals when activated by light scattered from said pellet, said activating means and said firing means being responsive to output signals from said photomultiplier means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system defined in claim 4, wherein said photomultiplier means comprises a pair of photomultiplier tubes, wherein said activating means includes a pumping control circuit, an output signal from one of said photomultiplier tubes activating said pumping control circuit which activates said first-mentioned laser means, and wherein said firing means comprises a firing control circuit, an output signal from the other of said photomultiplier tubes activating said firing control circuit which fires said first-mentioned laser means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
The system defined in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises a pair of photomultiplier tubes, wherein said activating means comprises a laser pumping control circuit operatively connected intermediate one of said photomultiplier tubes and said laser means, and wherein said firing means comprises a laser firinG control circuit operatively connected intermediate the other of said photomultiplier tubes being responsive to light scattered from an associated falling pellet at said point above said focal point for activating said laser pumping control circuit thereby activating said laser means, said other of said photomultiplier tubes being responsive to light scattered from an associated falling pellet at said focal point for activating said laser firing control circuit thereby firing said laser means when such an associated pellet is located at said focal point.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system defined in claim 6, wherein lens means and slot defining means are positioned intermediate each of said pair of photomultiplier tubes and the point of fall of an associated pellet being detected thereby for passing scattered light from such an associated pellet to said photomultiplier tubes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3378446A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |