The polywell is a proposed fusion reactor design that uses a combination of electric and magnetic fields to heat ions to fusion conditions, related to the fusor, the high beta fusion reactor, the magnetic mirror and the biconic cusp. A set of electromagnets generates a magnetic field that traps electrons, and the trapped electrons create a negative voltage that attracts positive ions toward the center of the device. As the ions accelerate toward the negative center their kinetic energy rises, and ions that collide at sufficiently high energies can fuse.
Facts
Technology TypeA proposed fusion reactor design that uses a combination of electric and magnetic fields to heat ions to fusion conditions. 1 Invented Year Classification
MaturityTRL 3: Experimental Proof of Concept 1 Sources
1. Wikipedia: Polywell
WikipediaLead section
The polywell is a proposed design for a fusion reactor using an electric and magnetic field to heat ions to fusion conditions.
History section
The first proposal to combine this configuration with an electrostatic potential well in order to improve electron confinement was made by Oleg Lavrentiev in 1975.
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