Infroton

Thermonuclear fusion is a process that typically takes place in stars, where the nuclei of lighter atoms fuse into heavier ones at high temperatures, high pressures, and high densities over a period of time, releasing a lot of energy.

The invention introduces a technology that enhances the efficiency of fusion reactions by utilizing whispering gallery mode polarized laser beams to generate a magnetic field stronger than 100 Tesla, plasma meeting fusion criteria, and polarized deuteron, tritium, and helium-3 ions within the plasma. Whispering gallery mode polarization increases the fusion reaction cross-section, thereby reducing the energy input required for fusion and fast ignition conditions. Furthermore, it enables the directional control of reaction products, including neutrons, alpha particles, and protons. The magnetic field exceeding 100 Tesla, generated by the whispering gallery mode polarized laser beams, also protects the polarized plasma from depolarization effects.

The INFROTON® technology uses deuterium as fusion fuel, starting with a primary D-D reaction, followed by secondary D-T and D-He3 reactions within a single capsule. This approach offers several advantages:

Easy availability of deuterium:
Deuterium occurs naturally in water and can be easily extracted, providing a virtually unlimited and sustainable energy source.
No need for tritium storage:
The technology produces tritium on-site as a secondary product of the D-D reaction, eliminating the need for pre-manufactured radioactive tritium or long-term storage.
Lower neutron emission:
The combination of D-D, D-T, and D-He3 reactions generates fewer neutrons compared to the pure D-T reaction, reducing material degradation and secondary radioactivity in reactor components.
Higher energy production potential:
The multi-phase reaction process enhances energy efficiency, as the D-T and D-He3 reactions contribute to the overall energy output.
Safer operation:
Using exclusively deuterium-based fuel makes the reactor safer, as it involves minimal radioactive materials, reducing the risk of accidents.
Lower costs:
Extracting deuterium is less expensive than producing or storing tritium, significantly reducing fuel costs.
Reduced radiation shielding requirements:
Lower neutron emission means less extensive radiation shielding is needed, simplifying and lowering the cost of reactor installation and operation.

The whispering gallery mode works on the principle of ray reflection and describes a wave motion that moves around a concave surface. The reflected waves can be subatomic particle radiation (e.g. alpha, electron, neutron radiation) or electromagnetic radiation (e.g. laser, gamma, X-ray radiation) which interact with the concave reflecting surface and explode symmetrically inward towards the center, generating secondary radiation and magnetic fields of kT strength.

Part of the laser radiation falling on the concave surface of the capsules used by the INFROTON® FUSION technology is reflected from the concave surface and begins to move in a circular motion, while another part gives off part of its energy upon impact and generates hot electrons at the point of impact. The drift of hot electrons towards colder points induces an ultra-high-strength electric current, which, according to the laws of physics, generates an ultra-high-strength magnetic field, i.e. pressure for plasma compression.

Part of the laser radiation falling on the concave surface of the capsules used by the INFROTON® FUSION technology is reflected from the concave surface and begins to move in a circular motion, while another part gives off part of its energy upon impact and generates hot electrons at the point of impact. The hot electrons are so energetic that some of them leave the target wall and enter the cavity surrounded by the concave receiving surface, and explode inward, generating pressure for plasma compression.

The process of helping to initiate the fusion process, when additional energy, such as proton radiation, is introduced into the precompressed fusion fuel, thereby facilitating the initiation of the fusion process. In the rapid ignition applied by the INFROTON® FUSION technology, a conical magnetic field generated by the whispering gallery mode radiation is used to focus the proton radiation or wakefield radiation.

The 10 ns duration magnetic fields generated by the whispering gallery mode radiations push the liquid metal bubbles filled with fusion gas into the reactor space by pulsing every 10 ns duration, making it possible to replace capsules with liquid metal bubble droplets, thereby simplifying the production technology and the fusion process.

The invention reduces the energy required for whispering gallery mode magnetic inertial fusion fast ignition lasers to millijoule levels by employing dual-wavelength laser irradiation on the central region of a cryogenic deuterium target. Situated in a pre-stressed magnetic field, the target contains a nanometer-sized hole.

In one embodiment, a 50 millijoule laser pulse provides high energy density, while the 10 fs ultrashort pulse duration and the 10^16 W/cm² peak power ensure efficient energy transfer. The first set of laser beams, with a specific wavelength, directed from opposite sides towards the center of a 200 nm thick target, generate fusion plasma, heating and compressing the deuterium to fusion temperatures.

Based on the PIC simulations, the particle density (n) was 10^22 particles/cm³ and the closing time of the magnetic field (τ): 10 ns, thus creating the necessary Lawson criteria for fusion, which for deuterium is nτ ≥ 10^16 s/cm³. Similarly parameterized laser beams, also directed from opposite sides, ignite the target's center, initiating a burn that propagates through the entire target, compressed by the whispering gallery mode-induced magnetic field.

The laser-generated hot electrons and ions from the inner hot wall of the nano hole explode towards the cold center. A uniform magnetic field induces Larmor gyrations of the imploding particles, producing ampere current density and generating tesla magnetic fields. These fields confine electrons and ions, ensuring they deposit their energy within the target, extending the fusion burn.

The target also incorporates lithium nanoparticles, which enhance energy deposition and generate tritium through lithium-neutron reactions, further improving the fusion process's overall efficiency. Note: If the wavelength of the first laser beam is 670.8 nm, it resonates with the resonance frequency of the Lithium-6 isotope. Through the plasma resonance of Lithium-6, it can amplify the received light energy and then distribute it evenly to initiate the fusion fast ignition. This process is completed by a second laser beam with a wavelength that is half of the first one, i.e., 335 nm.

(0.6 mg of deuterium, 0.2 mg of lithium-6) potential energy content is 310 MJ, of which we expect 100 MJ.

Target production (0.6 mg D₂ + 0.2 mg Li₆)

Equipment: Heavy water tank D₂O: 1 liter (1.1 kg, containing 0.22 kg deuterium D₂, 14-day supply) → Electrolyzer 15 g/24 hours, Energy requirement: 1 KWh → Lithium-6 nanoparticle dispenser 1000 x 0.2 mg = 200 mg/hour → Cryostat: 1000 pcs/hour, cooling of 0.6 mg D₂ gas + 0.2 mg lithium nanoparticles to 20 Kelvin, Energy requirement: 1 KWh

Lawson criteria:

Particle density: 10^22 particles/cm³
Magnetic confinement time: 10 ns
Temperature: 100-500 million degrees Celsius, as alpha radiation and neutrons deposit part of their energy in the target.

Primary reactions:

D + D → ³He + n + 3.27 MeV
D + D → ³H + p + 4.03 MeV

Secondary reactions:

D + ³H → ⁴He + n + 17.6 MeV
D + ³He → ⁴He + p + 18.0 MeV
⁶Li + n → ³H + ⁴He + 4.8 MeV

Initial Number of Atoms:

Deuterium (D): For 0.6 mg: 0.6/2 x 1.503 x 10²⁰ = 1.8036 x 10²⁰ atoms
Lithium-6 (⁶Li): For 0.2 mg: 0.2/2 x 5.017 x 10¹⁹ = 2.0068 x 10¹⁹ atoms

Primary Fusion Reactions, Deuterium-deuterium (D-D) fusion:

Total number of reactions: 1.8036 x 10²⁰ / 2 = 9.018 x 10¹⁹
Two types of reactions in equal proportions:
- D + D → ³He + n + 3.27 MeV: 4.509 x 10¹⁹
- D + D → ³H + p + 4.03 MeV: 4.509 x 10¹⁹
Energy release:
- 4.509 x 10¹⁹ x 3.27 MeV = 1.4734 x 10²⁰ MeV
- 4.509 x 10¹⁹ x 4.03 MeV = 1.8151 x 10²⁰ MeV
Total: 1.4734 x 10²⁰ MeV + 1.8151 x 10²⁰ MeV = 3.2885 x 10²⁰ MeV

Secondary Fusion Reactions:

Since all initial deuterium is used up in the primary reactions, there is not enough deuterium left for secondary reactions. Therefore, the number of primary reactions needs to be halved.
Reactions and Energy Release:
- Deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion:
  - Required atoms: 4.509 x 10¹⁹
  - Energy release: 4.509 x 10¹⁹ x 17.6 MeV = 7.9398 x 10²⁰ MeV
- Deuterium-helium-3 (D-³He) fusion:
  - Required atoms: 4.509 x 10¹⁹
  - Energy release: 4.509 x 10¹⁹ x 18.0 MeV = 8.1162 x 10²⁰ MeV
- Lithium-6 and neutron reaction:
  - Number of lithium-6 atoms: 2.0068 x 10¹⁹
  - Energy release: 2.0068 x 10¹⁹ x 4.8 MeV = 9.6326 x 10¹⁹ MeV

Total Released Energy:

D-D reaction energy: 3.2885 x 10²⁰ MeV
D-T reaction energy: 7.9398 x 10²⁰ MeV
D-³He reaction energy: 8.1162 x 10²⁰ MeV
Lithium-6 reaction energy: 9.6326 x 10¹⁹ MeV
Total: 3.2885 x 10²⁰ MeV + 7.9398 x 10²⁰ MeV + 8.1162 x 10²⁰ MeV + 9.6326 x 10¹⁹ MeV = 1.93757 x 10²¹ MeV

Conversion to MJ:

1 MeV = 1.60218 x 10^-13 J
1.93757 x 10²¹ MeV x 1.60218 x 10^-13 J/MeV = 310.43 MJ
According to the final calculation, the total released energy would be 310.43 MJ.

Basically nothing. If the fusion plasma in the Pulsar or Drop power plants flows into a heat exchanger, we produce fusion energy, if it flows freely into space, we can generate thrust for the rocket or spacecraft. For the time being, we do not plan to convert capsule power plants to rocket propulsion.

Neutron safety is the top priority of INFROTON®. Our power plants swim in a bath of liquid metal (typically Lead) to shield the machine and the area outside the machine from neutrons, similar to how particle beams are shielded in hospitals.

In the Infroton spin-polarization solution the emission of neutrons in spin-polarized fuel becomes directional. This is due to quantum mechanical conservation of momentum, energy, and spin correlation, which favor the direction perpendicular to the spin. Through anisotropic emission, harmful neutron radiation can be technically shielded from structural elements of fusion reactors, such as fusion fuel feeders or spacecraft propulsion systems.

Low electricity price $6.5/MWh. During the fusion reaction, no greenhouse gases are released and, unlike nuclear fission, it does not produce long-lived radioactive waste. Our power plants are cheaper than solar power plants, they take up less space. Fusion fuel is also plentiful. The deuterium needed for fusion is practically unlimited in the ocean.

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