Star pinch plasma source of photons or neutrons
US6728337B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 10, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03F7/70033
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A source of photons or neutrons includes a housing that defines a discharge chamber, a first group of ion beam sources directed toward a plasma discharge region in the discharge chamber, the first group of ion beam sources including a first electrode and an inner shell, and a second electrode spaced from the plasma discharge region. The source of photons or neutrons further includes a first power supply for energizing the first group of ion beam sources to electrostatically accelerate toward the plasma discharge region ion beams which are at least partially neutralized before they enter the plasma discharge region, and a second power supply coupled between the first and second electrodes for delivering a heating current to the plasma discharge region. The ion beams and the heating current form a hot plasma that radiates photons or neutrons. The source of photons or neutrons may further include a second group of ion beam sources. The photons may be in the soft X-ray or extreme ultraviolet wavelength range and, in one embodiment, have wavelengths in a range of about 10-15 nanometers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.