Time average neutralized migma: A colliding beam/plasma hybrid physical state as aneutronic energy source - a review

A D+ beam of kinetic energy Ti=0.7 MeV was stored in a 'simple mirror' magnetic field as self-colliding orbits or migma and neutralized by ambient, oscillating electrons whose bounce frequencies were externally controlled. Space charge density was exceeded by an order of magnitude without instabilities. These nondestructive diagnosis methods allowed measurements of ion orbit distributions, ion storage times, ion energy distributions, nuclear reaction rate, and reaction product spectrum. The proton energy spectrum for d+d → T+p+4 MeV shows that dd collided at an average crossing angle of 1600. Evidence for exponential density buildup has also been observed. Relative to Migma III results and measured in terms of the product of ion energy E, density n, and confinement time τ, device performance was improved by a factor of 500. Using the central fast ion density, we obtained the triple product: Tnτ ≅ 4 x 1014 keV s cm-3, which is greater than that of the best fusion devices. The luminosity (collision rate per unit cross section) was ≅ 1029 cm-2 s-1, with 0.7 A ion current through the migma center. The stabilizing features of migma are: (1) large Larmor radius; (2) small canonical angular momentum; (3) short axial length z (disc shape); (4) nonadiabatic motions in r and z; (5) precession and energy spread; (6) ambipolar potential; (7) radial density gradient; (8) large ion-to-electron temperature ratio; (9) metal walls in z; (10) suitability for external stabilization techniques (small volume, recurrent surfacing of ions); and particularly (11) diamagnetic well. Extrapolation of the results to reactor densities led to a D+3He reactor 'basic migma disc' 0.5 m in diameter and 0.25 m thick, suspended in a 10 T field, generating 1.5 MW(th). A 2-MW(e) power plant would consist of 3 such discs in a common volume, referred to as a triplet migmacell. Its specific power is projected to be 1 MW(e)/ton. (orig./HSI)