Generating end plug potentials in tandem mirror plasma confinement by heating thermal particles so as to escape low density end stoppering plasmas

Claim 1

A plasma confinement apparatus comprising: a first plasma means for end stoppering electrostatically a central plasma traveling along magnetic field lines, the first means comprising a first plasma confined in a first region across the magnetic field lines, said first plasma comprising first charged particles; a second plasma means for end stoppering electrostatically said central plasma traveling along said magnetic field lines with said magnetic field lines being continuous as they run between and through the first and second plasma means, the second means comprising a second plasma confined in a second region across said magnetic field lines said second plasma comprising second charged particles; a center mirror cell positioned between the first plasma means and the second plasma means so as to enclose those of the magnetic field lines running between and through both the first and second plasma means with said central plasma traveling along said magnetic field lines in the center mirror cell, and comprising central charged particles; a first means for introducing both energy and a first input plasma into the first plasma means so as to maintain energy and density conditions in the first plasma which is used for end stoppering the center mirror cell; a second means for introducing both energy and a second input plasma into the second plasma means so as to maintain energy and density conditions in the second plasma which is used for end stoppering the center mirror cell; a first pumping means for pumping at least some of said first charged particles out of the first region along the magnetic field lines, with these first charged particles undergoing pumping being of a charge sign opposite to that of the central charged particles to be end stoppered within the center mirror cell, and further with the first charged particles undergoing pumping being influenced by a first force acting in a direction roughly parallel to the direction of the magnetic field lines as the lines enter and exit said first region, whereby the pumping enhances the end stoppering by the first plasma means; a second pumping means for pumping at least some of said second charged particles out of the second region along the magnetic field lines, with these second charged particles undergoing pumping being of a charge sign opposite to that of the central charged particles to be end stoppered within the center mirror cell, and further with the second charged particles undergoing pumping being influenced by a force acting in a direction roughly parallel to the direction of the magnetic field lines as the field lines enter and exit said second region, whereby the pumping enhances the end stoppering by the second plasma means; a start-up means for introducing into the plasma confinement apparatus that amount of plasma and energy required for beginning confinement of the central plasma; and a vacuum containing means for containing at least the central plasma; a volume evacuating means for evacuating the vacuum containing means and maintaining a vacuum therein.