US 12,245,351 B2
Plasma confinement system
Uri Shumlak, Seattle, WA (US); Brian A. Nelson, Seattle, WA (US); and Raymond Golingo, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to University of Washington, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Jan. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/150,255.
Application 18/150,255 is a division of application No. 16/487,338, granted, now 11,581,100, previously published as PCT/US2018/019364, filed on Feb. 23, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/462,779, filed on Feb. 23, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0223158 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. H05H 1/06 (2006.01); G21B 1/05 (2006.01); H05H 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC G21B 1/05 (2013.01) [H05H 1/04 (2013.01); H05H 1/06 (2013.01); Y02E 30/10 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plasma confinement system, comprising:
an inner electrode;
an outer electrode that substantially surrounds the inner electrode;
an intermediate electrode that faces the inner electrode;
one or more first valves configured to direct first gas from within the inner electrode to an acceleration region between the inner electrode and the outer electrode;
two or more second valves configured to direct second gas from outside the outer electrode to the acceleration region;
a first power supply configured to apply a first voltage between the inner electrode and the outer electrode; and
a second power supply configured to apply a second voltage between the inner electrode and the intermediate electrode,
wherein the outer electrode surrounds an assembly region between a first end of the inner electrode and the intermediate electrode, and
wherein the plasma confinement system is configured to sustain a Z-pinch plasma within the assembly region.