United States Patent 4,686,605
Eastlund -- August 11, 1987
Method and apparatus for altering a region in the earth's atmosphere, ionosphere, and/or magnetosphere
Abstract
A method and apparatus for altering at least one
selected region which normally exists above the earth's surface. The
region is excited by electron cyclotron resonance heating to thereby
increase its charged particle density. In one embodiment, circularly
polarized electromagnetic radiation is transmitted upward in a
direction substantially parallel to and along a field line which
extends through the region of plasma to be altered. The radiation is
transmitted at a frequency which excites electron cyclotron
resonance to heat and accelerate the charged particles. This
increase in energy can cause ionization of neutral particles which
are then absorbed as part of the region thereby increasing the
charged particle density of the region.
Inventors: Eastlund, Bernard J. (Spring, TX)
Assignee: APTI, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA)
Appl. No.: 06/690,333 Filed: January 10, 1985
Current U.S. Class: 361/231; 244/158.1; 380/59; 89/1.11
Current International Class:
H05H 1/02 (20060101); H05H 1/18 (20060101); F41G
7/20 (20060101); F41G 7/22 (20060101); F41H
13/00 (20060101); H01Q 1/36 (20060101); H05B 006/64 (); H05C
003/00 (); H05H 001/46 ()
Field of Search: 361/230,231 244/158R 376/100 89/1.11 380/59
References Cited
[Referenced By]
Other References
Liberty Magazine, (2/35) p. 7 N. Tesla. .
New York Times (9/22/40) Section 2, p. 7 W. L. Laurence. .
New York Times (12/8/15) p. 8 Col. 3..
Primary Examiner: Cangialosi; Salvatore
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Claims
I claim:
1. A method for altering at least one region normally existing above
the earth's surface with electromagnetic radiation using
naturally-occurring and diverging magnetic field lines of the earth
comprising transmitting first electromagnetic radiation at a
frequency between 20 and 7200 kHz from the earth's surface, said
transmitting being conducted essentially at the outset of
transmission substantially parallel to and along at least one of
said field lines, adjusting the frequency of said first radiation to
a value which will excite electron cyclotron resonance at an initial
elevation at least 50 km above the earth's surface, whereby in the
region in which said electron cyclotron resonance takes place
heating, further ionization, and movement of both charged and
neutral particles is effected, said cyclotron resonance excitation
of said region is continued until the electron concentration of said
region reaches a value of at least 10.sup.6 per cubic centimeter and
has an ion energy of at least 2 ev.
2. The method of claim 1 including the step of providing artificial
particles in said at least one region which are excited by said
electron cyclotron resonance.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said artificial particles are
provided by injecting same into said at least one region from an
orbiting satellite.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said threshold excitation of
electron cyclotron resonance is about 1 watt per cubic centimeter
and is sufficient to cause movement of a plasma region along said
diverging magnetic field lines to an altitude higher than the
altitude at which said excitation was initiated.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said rising plasma region pulls
with it a substantial portion of neutral particles of the atmosphere
which exist in or near said plasma region.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein there is provided at least one
separate source of second electromagnetic radiation, said second
radiation having at least one frequency different from said first
radiation, impinging said at least one second radiation on said
region while said region is undergoing electron cyclotron resonance
excitation caused by said first radiation.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein said second radiation has a
frequency which is absorbed by said region.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein said region is plasma in the
ionosphere and said second radiation excites plasma waves within
said ionosphere.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said electron concentration reaches
a value of at least 10.sup.12 per cubic centimeter.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein said excitation of electron
cyclotron resonance is initially carried out within the ionosphere
and is continued for a time sufficient to allow said region to rise
above said ionosphere.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein said excitation of electron
cyclotron resonance is carried out above about 500 kilometers and
for a time of from 0.1 to 1200 seconds such that multiple heating of
said plasma region is achieved by means of stochastic heating in the
magnetosphere.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein said first electromagnetic
radiation is right hand circularly polarized in the northern
hemisphere and left hand circularly polarized in the southern
hemisphere.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic radiation is
generated at the site of a naturally-occurring hydrocarbon fuel
source, said fuel source being located in at least one of northerly
or southerly magnetic latitudes.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said fuel source is natural gas
and electricity for generating said electromagnetic radiation is
obtained by burning said natural gas in at least one of
magnetohydrodynamic, gas turbine, fuel cell, and EGD electric
generators located at the site where said natural gas naturally
occurs in the earth.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said site of natural gas is
within the magnetic latitudes that encompass Alaska.
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for altering at
least one selected region normally existing above the earth's
surface and more particularly relates to a method and apparatus for
altering said at least one region by initially transmitting
electromagnetic radiation from the earth's surface essentially
parallel to and along naturally-occurring, divergent magnetic field
lines which extend from the earth's surface through the region or
regions to be altered.
2. Background Art
In the late 1950's, it was discovered that naturally-occuring belts
exist at high altitudes above the earth's surface, and it is now
established that these belts result from charged electrons and ions
becoming trapped along the magnetic lines of force (field lines) of
the earth's essentially dipole magnetic field. The trapped electrons
and ions are confined along the field lines between two magnetic
mirrors which exist at spaced apart points along those field lines.
The trapped electrons and ions move in helical paths around their
particular field lines and "bounce" back and forth between the
magnetic mirrors. These trapped electrons and ions can oscillate
along the field lines for long periods of time.
In the past several years, substantial effort has been made to
understand and explain the phenomena involved in belts of trapped
electrons and ions, and to explore possible ways to control and use
these phenomena for beneficial purposes. For example, in the late
1950's and early 1960's both the United States and U.S.S.R.
detonated a series of nuclear devices of various yields to generate
large numbers of charged particles at various altitudes, e.g., 200
kilometers (km) or greater. This was done in order to establish and
study artifical belts of trapped electrons and ions. These
experiments established that at least some of the extraneous
electrons and ions from the detonated devices did become trapped
along field lines in the earth's magnetosphere to form artificial
belts which were stable for prolonged periods of time. For a
discussion of these experiments see "The Radiation Belt and
Magnetosphere", W. N. Hess, Blaisdell Publishing Co., 1968, pps. 155
et sec.
Other proposals which have been advanced for altering existing belts
of trapped electrons and ions and/or establishing similar artificial
belts include injecting charged particles from a satellite carrying
a payload of radioactive beta-decay material or alpha emitters; and
injecting charged particles from a satellite-borne electron
accelerator. Still another approach is described in U.S. Pat. No.
4,042,196 wherein a low energy ionized gas, e.g., hydrogen, is
released from a synchronous orbiting satellite near the apex of a
radiation belt which is naturally-occurring in the earth's
magnetosphere to produce a substantial increase in energetic
particle precipitation and, under certain conditions, produce a
limit in the number of particles that can be stably trapped. This
precipitation effect arises from an enhancement of the whistler-mode
and ion-cyclotron mode interactions that result from the ionized gas
or "cold plasma" injection.
It has also been proposed to release large
clouds of barium in the magnetosphere so that photoionization will
increase the cold plasma density, thereby producing electron
precipitation through enhanced whistler-mode interactions.
However, in all of the above-mentioned approaches, the mechanisms
involved in triggering the change in the trapped particle phenomena
must be actually positioned within the affected zone, e.g., the
magnetosphere, before they can be actuated to effect the desired
change.
The earth's ionosphere is not considered to be a "trapped" belt
since there are few trapped particles therein. The term "trapped"
herein refers to situations where the force of gravity on the
trapped particles is balanced by magnetic forces rather than
hydrostatic or collisional forces. The charged electrons and ions in
the ionosphere also follow helical paths around magnetic field lines
within the ionosphere but are not trapped between mirrors, as in the
case of the trapped belts in the magnetosphere, since the
gravitational force on the particles is balanced by collisional or
hydrostatic forces.
In recent years, a number of experiments have actually been carried
out to modify the ionosphere in some controlled manner to
investigate the possibility of a beneficial result. For detailed
discussions of these operations see the following papers: (1)
Ionospheric Modification Theory; G. Meltz and F. W. Perkins; (2) The
Platteville High Power Facility; Carrol et al.; (3) Arecibo Heating
Experiments; W. E. Gordon and H. C. Carlson, Jr.; and (4)
Ionospheric Heating by Powerful Radio Waves; Meltz et al., all
published in Radio Science, Vol. 9, No. 11, November, 1974, at pages
885-888; 889-894; 1041-1047; and 1049-1063, respectively, all of
which are incorporated herein by reference. In such experiments,
certain regions of the ionosphere are heated to change the electron
density and temperature within these regions. This is accomplished
by transmitting from earth-based antennae high frequency
electromagnetic radiation at a substantial angle to, not parallel
to, the ionosphere's magnetic field to heat the ionospheric
particles primarily by ohmic heating. The electron temperature of
the ionosphere has been raised by hundreds of degrees in these
experiments, and electrons with several electron volts of energy
have been produced in numbers sufficient to enhance airglow.
Electron concentrations have been reduced by a few percent, due to
expansion of the plasma as a result of increased temperature.
In the Elmo Bumpy Torus (EBT), a controlled fusion device at the Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, all heating is provided by microwaves at
the electron cyclotron resonance interaction. A ring of hot
electrons is formed at the earth's surface in the magnetic mirror by
a combination of electron cyclotron resonance and stochastic
heating. In the EBT, the ring electrons are produced with an average
"temperature" of 250 kilo electron volts or kev (2.5.times.10.sup.9
K) and a plasma beta between 0.1 and 0.4; see, "A Theoretical Study
of Electron--Cyclotron Absorption in Elmo Bumpy Torus", Batchelor
and Goldfinger, Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 20, No. 4 (1980) pps. 403-418.
Electron cyclotron resonance heating has been used in experiments on
the earth's surface to produce and accelerate plasmas in a diverging
magnetic field. Kosmahl et al. showed that power was transferred
from the electromagnetic waves and that a fully ionized plasma was
accelerated with a divergence angle of roughly 13 degrees. Optimum
neutral gas density was 1.7.times.10.sup.14 per cubic centimeter;
see, "Plasma Acceleration with Microwaves Near Cyclotron Resonance",
Kosmahl et al., Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 38, No. 12, Nov.,
1967, pps. 4576-4582.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for altering
at least one selected region which normally exists above the earth's
surface. The region is excited by electron cyclotron resonance
heating of electrons which are already present and/or artifically
created in the region to thereby increase the charged particle
energy and ultimately the density of the region.
In one embodiment this is done by transmitting circularly polarized
electromagnetic radiation from the earth's surface at or near the
location where a naturally-occurring dipole magnetic field (force)
line intersects the earth's surface. Right hand circular
polarization is used in the northern hemisphere and left hand
circular polarization is used in the southern hemisphere. The
radiation is deliberately transmitted at the outset in a direction
substantially parallel to and along a field line which extends
upwardly through the region to be altered. The radiation is
transmitted at a frequency which is based on the gyrofrequency of
the charged particles and which, when applied to the at least one
region, excites electron cyclotron resonance within the region or
regions to heat and accelerate the charged particles in their
respective helical paths around and along the field line. Sufficient
energy is employed to cause ionization of neutral particles
(molecules of oxygen, nitrogen and the like, particulates, etc.)
which then become a part of the region thereby increasing the
charged particle density of the region. This effect can further be
enhanced by providing artificial particles, e.g., electrons, ions,
etc., directly into the region to be affected from a rocket,
satellite, or the like to supplement the particles in the
naturally-occurring plasma. These artificial particles are also
ionized by the transmitted electromagnetic radiation thereby
increasing charged particle density of the resulting plasma in the
region.
In another embodiment of the invention, electron cyclotron resonance
heating is carried out in the selected region or regions at
sufficient power levels to allow a plasma present in the region to
generate a mirror force which forces the charged electrons of the
altered plasma upward along the force line to an altitude which is
higher than the original altitude. In this case the relevant mirror
points are at the base of the altered region or regions. The charged
electrons drag ions with them as well as other particles that may be
present. Sufficient power, e.g., 10.sup.15 joules, can be applied so
that the altered plasma can be trapped on the field line between
mirror points and will oscillate in space for prolonged periods of
time. By this embodiment, a plume of altered plasma can be
established at selected locations for communication modification or
other purposes.
In another embodiment, this invention is used to alter at least one
selected region of plasma in the ionosphere to establish a defined
layer of plasma having an increased charged particle density. Once
this layer is established, and while maintaining the transmission of
the main beam of circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation, the
main beam is modulated and/or at least one second different,
modulated electromagnetic radiation beam is transmitted from at
least one separate source at a different frequency which will be
absorbed in the plasma layer. The amplitude of the frequency of the
main beam and/or the second beam or beams is modulated in resonance
with at least one known oscillation mode in the selected region or
regions to excite the known oscillation mode to propagate a known
frequency wave or waves throughout the ionosphere.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The actual construction, operation, and apparent advantages of this
invention will be better understood by referring to the drawings in
which like numerals identify like parts and in which:
FIG. 1 is a simplified schematical view of the earth (not to scale)
with a magnetic field (force) line along which the present invention
is carried out;
FIG. 2 is one embodiment within the present invention in which a
selected region of plasma is raised to a higher altitude;
FIG. 3 is a simplified, idealized representation of a physical
phenomenon involved in the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another embodiment within the present
invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an apparatus embodiment within this
invention .
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The earth's magnetic field is somewhat analogous to a dipole bar
magnet. As such, the earth's magnetic field contains numerous
divergent field or force lines, each line intersecting the earth's
surface at points on opposite sides of the Equator. The field lines
which intersect the earth's surface near the poles have apexes which
lie at the furthest points in the earth's magnetosphere while those
closest to the Equator have apexes which reach only the lower
portion of the magnetosphere.
At various altitudes above the earth's surface, e.g., in both the
ionosphere and the magnetosphere, plasma is naturally present along
these field lines. This plasma consists of equal numbers of
positively and negatively charged particles (i.e., electrons and
ions) which are guided by the field line. It is well established
that a charged particle in a magnetic field gyrates about field
lines, the center of gyration at any instance being called the
"guiding center" of the particle. As the gyrating particle moves
along a field line in a uniform field, it will follow a helical path
about its guiding center, hence linear motion, and will remain on
the field line. Electrons and ions both follow helical paths around
a field line but rotate in opposite directions. The frequencies at
which the electrons and ions rotate about the field line are called
gyromagnetic frequencies or cyclotron frequencies because they are
identical with the expression for the angular frequencies of
gyration of particles in a cyclotron. The cyclotron frequency of
ions in a given magnetic field is less than that of electrons, in
inverse proportion to their masses.
If the particles which form the plasma along the earth's field lines
continued to move with a constant pitch angle, often designated
"alpha", they would soon impact on the earth's surface. Pitch angle
alpha is defined as the angle between the direction of the earth's
magnetic field and the velocity (V) of the particle. However, in
converging force fields, the pitch angle does change in such a way
as to allow the particle to turn around and avoid impact. Consider a
particle moving along a field line down toward the earth. It moves
into a region of increasing magnetic field strength and therefore
sine alpha increases. But sine alpha can only increase to 1.0, at
which point, the particle turns around and starts moving up along
the field line, and alpha decreases. The point at which the particle
turns around is called the mirror point, and there alpha equals
ninety degrees. This process is repeated at the other end of the
field line where the same magnetic field strength value B, namely Bm,
exists. The particle again turns around and this is called the
"conjugate point" of the original mirror point. The particle is
therefore trapped and bounces between the two magnetic mirrors. The
particle can continue oscillating in space in this manner for long
periods of time. The actual place where a particle will mirror can
be calculated from the following:
wherein:
alpha.sub.o =equatorial pitch angle of particle
B.sub.o =equatorial field strength on a particular field line
B.sub.m =field strength at the mirror point
Recent discoveries have established that there are substantial
regions of naturally trapped particles in space which are commonly
called "trapped radiation belts". These belts occur at altitudes
greater than about 500 km and accordingly lie in the magnetosphere
and mostly above the ionosphere.
The ionosphere, while it may overlap some of the trapped-particle
belts, is a region in which hydrostatic forces govern its particle
distribution in the gravitational field. Particle motion within the
ionosphere is governed by both hydrodynamic and electrodynamic
forces. While there are few trapped particles in the ionosphere,
nevertheless, plasma is present along field lines in the ionosphere.
The charged particles which form this plasma move between collisions
with other particles along similar helical paths around the field
lines and although a particular particle may diffuse downward into
the earth's lower atmosphere or lose energy and diverge from its
original field line due to collisions with other particles, these
charged particles are normally replaced by other available charged
particles or by particles that are ionized by collision with said
particle. The electron density (N.sub.e) of the plasma will vary
with the actual conditions and locations involved. Also, neutral
particles, ions, and electrons are present in proximity to the field
lines.
The production of enhanced ionization will also alter the
distribution of atomic and molecular constituents of the atmosphere,
most notably through increased atomic nitrogen concentration. The
upper atmosphere is normally rich in atomic oxygen (the dominant
atmospheric constituent above 200 km altitude), but atomic nitrogen
is normally relatively rare. This can be expected to manifest itself
in increased airglow, among other effects.
As known in plasma physics, the characteristics of a plasma can be
altered by adding energy to the charged particles or by ionizing or
exciting additional particles to increase the density of the plasma.
One way to do this is by heating the plasma which can be
accomplished in different ways, e.g., ohmic, magnetic compression,
shock waves, magnetic pumping, electron cyclotron resonance, and the
like.
Since electron cyclotron resonance heating is involved in the
present invention, a brief discussion of same is in order.
Increasing the energy of electrons in a plasma by invoking electron
cyclotron resonance heating, is based on a principle similar to that
utilized to accelerate charged particles in a cyclotron. If a plasma
is confined by a static axial magnetic field of strength B, the
charged particles will gyrate about the lines of force with a
frequency given, in hertz, as f.sub.g =1.54.times.10.sup.3 B/A,
where: B=magnetic field strength in gauss, and A=mass number of the
ion.
Suppose a time-varying field of this frequency is superimposed on
the static field B confining the plasma, by passage of a
radiofrequency current through a coil which is concentric with that
producing the axial field, then in each half-cycle of their rotation
about the field lines, the charged particles acquire energy from the
oscillating electric field associated with the radio frequency. For
example, if B is 10,000 gauss, the frequency of the field which is
in resonance with protons in a plasma is 15.4 megahertz.
As applied to electrons, electron cyclotron resonance heating
requires an oscillating field having a definite frequency determined
by the strength of the confining field. The radio-frequency
radiation produces time-varying fields (electric and magnetic), and
the electric field accelerates the charged particle. The energized
electrons share their energy with ions and neutrals by undergoing
collisions with these particles, thereby effectively raising the
temperature of the electrons, ions, and neutrals. The apportionment
of energy among these species is determined by collision
frequencies. For a more detailed understanding of the physics
involved, see "Controlled Thermonuclear Reactions", Glasstone and
Lovberg, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, N.J., 1960 and
"The Radiation Belt and Magnetosphere", Hess, Blaisdell Publishing
Company, 1968, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Referring now to the drawings, the present invention provides a
method and apparatus for altering at least one region of plasma
which lies along a field line, particularly when it passes through
the ionosphere and/or magnetosphere. FIG. 1 is a simplified
illustration of the earth 10 and one of its dipole magnetic force or
field lines 11. As will be understood, line 11 may be any one of the
numerous naturally existing field lines and the actual geographical
locations 13 and 14 of line 11 will be chosen based on a particular
operation to be carried out. The actual locations at which field
lines intersect the earth's surface is documented and is readily
ascertainable by those skilled in the art.
Line 11 passes through region R which lies at an altitude above the
earth's surface. A wide range of altitudes are useful given the
power that can be employed by the practice of this invention. The
electron cyclotron resonance heating effect can be made to act on
electrons anywhere above the surface of the earth. These electrons
may be already present in the atmosphere, ionosphere, and/or
magnetosphere of the earth, or can be artificially generated by a
variety of means such as x-ray beams, charged particle beams,
lasers, the plasma sheath surrounding an object such as a missile or
meteor, and the like. Further, artificial particles, e.g.,
electrons, ions, etc., can be injected directly into region R from
an earth-launched rocket or orbiting satellite carrying, for
example, a payload of radioactive beta-decay material; alpha
emitters; an electron accelerator; and/or ionized gases such as
hydrogen; see U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,196. The altitude can be greater
than about 50 km if desired, e.g., can be from about 50 km to about
800 km, and, accordingly may lie in either the ionosphere or the
magnetosphere or both. As explained above, plasma will be present
along line 11 within region R and is represented by the helical line
12. Plasma 12 is comprised of charged particles (i.e., electrons and
ions) which rotate about opposing helical paths along line 11.
Antenna 15 is positioned as close as is practical to the location 14
where line 11 intersects the earth's surface. Antenna 15 may be of
any known construction for high directionality, for example, a
phased array, beam spread angle (.theta.) type. See "The MST Radar
at Poker Flat, Alaska", Radio Science, Vol. 15, No. 2, Mar.-Apr.
1980, pps. 213-223, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Antenna 15 is coupled to transmitter 16 which generates a beam of
high frequency electromagnetic radiation at a wide range of discrete
frequencies, e.g., from about 20 to about 1800 kilohertz (kHz).
Transmitter 16 is powered by power generator means 17 which is
preferably comprised of one or more large, commercial electrical
generators. Some embodiments of the present invention require large
amounts of power, e.g., up to 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.11 watts, in
continuous wave or pulsed power. Generation of the needed power is
within the state of the art. Although the electrical generators
necessary for the practice of the invention can be powered in any
known manner, for example, by nuclear reactors, hydroelectric
facilities, hydrocarbon fuels, and the like, this invention, because
of its very large power requirement in certain applications, is
particularly adapted for use with certain types of fuel sources
which naturally occur at strategic geographical locations around the
earth. For example, large reserves of hydrocarbons (oil and natural
gas) exist in Alaska and Canada. In northern Alaska, particularly
the North Slope region, large reserves are currently readily
available. Alaska and northern Canada also are ideally located
geographically as to magnetic latitudes. Alaska provides easy access
to magnetic field lines that are especially suited to the practice
of this invention, since many field lines which extend to desirable
altitudes for this invention intersect the earth in Alaska. Thus, in
Alaska, there is a unique combination of large, accessible fuel
sources at desirable field line intersections. Further, a
particularly desirable fuel source for the generation of very large
amounts of electricity is present in Alaska in abundance, this
source being natural gas. The presence of very large amounts of
clean-burning natural gas in Alaskan latitudes, particularly on the
North Slope, and the availability of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), gas
turbine, fuel cell, electrogasdynamic (EGD) electric generators
which operate very efficiently with natural gas provide an ideal
power source for the unprecedented power requirements of certain of
the applications of this invention. For a more detailed discussion
of the various means for generating electricity from hydrocarbon
fuels, see "Electrical Aspects of Combustion", Lawton and Weinberg,
Clarendon Press, 1969. For example, it is possible to generate the
electricity directly at the high frequency needed to drive the
antenna system. To do this, typically the velocity of flow of the
combustion gases (v), past magnetic field perturbation of dimension
d (in the case of MHD), follow the rule:
where f is the frequency at which electricity is generated. Thus, if
v=1.78.times.10.sup.6 cm/sec and d=1 cm then electricity would be
generated at a frequency of 1.78 mHz.
Put another way, in Alaska, the right type of fuel (natural gas) is
naturally present in large amounts and at just the right magnetic
latitudes for the most efficient practice of this invention, a truly
unique combination of circumstances. Desirable magnetic latitudes
for the practice of this invention interest the earth's surface both
northerly and southerly of the equator, particularly desirable
latitudes being those, both northerly and southerly, which
correspond in magnitude with the magnetic latitudes that encompass
Alaska.
Referring now to FIG. 2 a first ambodiment is illustrated where a
selected region R.sub.1 of plasma 12 is altered by electron
cyclotron resonance heating to accelerate the electrons of plasma
12, which are following helical paths along field line 11.
To accomplish this result, electromagnetic radiation is transmitted
at the outset, essentially parallel to line 11 via antenna 15 as
right hand circularly polarized radiation wave 20. Wave 20 has a
frequency which will excite electron cyclotron resonance with plasma
12 at its initial or original altitude. This frequency will vary
depending on the electron cyclotron resonance of region R.sub.1
which, in turn, can be determined from available data based on the
altitudes of region R.sub.1, the particular field line 11 being
used, the strength of the earth's magnetic field, etc. Frequencies
of from about 20 to about 7200 kHz, preferably from about 20 to
about 1800 kHz can be employed. Also, for any given application,
there will be a threshhold (minimum power level) which is needed to
produce the desired result. The minimum power level is a function of
the level of plasma production and movement required, taking into
consideration any loss processes that may be dominant in a
particular plasma or propagation path.
As electron cyclotron resonance is established in plasma 12, energy
is transferred from the electromagnetic radiation 20 into plasma 12
to heat and accelerate the electrons therein and, subsequently, ions
and neutral particles. As this process continues, neutral particles
which are present within R.sub.1 are ionized and absorbed into
plasma 12 and this increases the electron and ion densities of
plasma 12. As the electron energy is raised to values of about 1
kilo electron volt (kev), the generated mirror force (explained
below) will direct the excited plasma 12 upward along line 11 to
form a plume R.sub.2 at an altitude higher than that of R.sub.1.
Plasma acceleration results from the force on an electron produced
by a nonuniform static magnetic field (B). The force, called the
mirror force, is given by
where .mu. is the electron magnetic moment and .gradient. B is the
gradient of the magnetic field, .mu. being further defined as:
where W.sub..perp. is the kinetic energy in the direction
perpendicular to that of the magnetic field lines and B is the
magnetic field strength at the line of force on which the guiding
center of the particle is located. The force as represented by
equation (2) is the force which is responsible for a particle
obeying equation (1).
Since the magnetic field is divergent in region R.sub.1, it can be
shown that the plasma will move upwardly from the heating region as
shown in FIG. 1 and further it can be shown that
where the left hand side is the initial electron transverse kinetic
energy; the first term on the right is the transverse electron
kinetic energy at some point (Y) in the expanded field region, while
the final term is the ion kinetic energy parallel to B at point (Y).
This last term is what constitutes the desired ion flow. It is
produced by an electrostatic field set up by electrons which are
accelerated according to Equation (2) in the divergent field region
and pulls ions along with them. Equation (3) ignores electron
kinetic energy parallel to B because V.sub.e.parallel. .apprxeq.V.sub.i.parallel.,
so the bulk of parallel kinetic energy resides in the ions because
of their greater masses. For example, if an electromagnetic energy
flux of from about 1 to about 10 watts per square centimeter is
applied to region R, whose altitude is 115 km, a plasma having a
density (N.sub.e) of 10.sup.12 per cubic centimeter will be
generated and moved upward to region R.sub.2 which has an altitude
of about 1000 km. The movement of electrons in the plasma is due to
the mirror force while the ions are moved by ambipolar diffusion
(which results from the electrostatic field). This effectively
"lifts" a layer of plasma 12 from the ionosphere and/or
magnetosphere to a higher elevation R.sub.2. The total energy
required to create a plasma with a base area of 3 square kilometers
and a height of 1000 km is about 3.times.10.sup.13 joules.
FIG. 3 is an idealized representation of movement of plasma 12 upon
excitation by electron cyclotron resonance within the earth's
divergent force field. Electrons (e) are accelerated to velocities
required to generate the necessary mirror force to cause their
upward movement. At the same time neutral particles (n) which are
present along line 11 in region R.sub.1 are ionized and become part
of plasma 12. As electrons (e) move upward along line 11, they drag
ions (i) and neutrals (n) with them but at an angle .theta. of about
13 degrees to field line 11. Also, any particulates that may be
present in region R.sub.1, will be swept upwardly with the plasma.
As the charged particles of plasma 12 move upward, other particles
such as neutrals within or below R.sub.1, move in to replace the
upwardly moving particles. These neutrals, under some conditions,
can drag with them charged particles.
For example, as a plasma moves upward, other particles at the same
altitude as the plasma move horizontally into the region to replace
the rising plasma and to form new plasma. The kinetic energy
developed by said other particles as they move horizontally is, for
example, on the same order of magnitude as the total zonal kinetic
energy of stratospheric winds known to exist.
Referring again to FIG. 2, plasma 12 in region R.sub.1 is moved
upward along field line 11. The plasma 12 will then form a plume
(cross-hatched area in FIG. 2) which will be relatively stable for
prolonged periods of time. The exact period of time will vary widely
and be determined by gravitational forces and a combination of
radiative and diffusive loss terms. In the previous detailed
example, the calculations were based on forming a plume by producing
0.sup.+ energies of 2 ev/particle. About 10 ev per particle would be
required to expand plasma 12 to apex point C (FIG. 1). There at
least some of the particles of plasma 12 will be trapped and will
oscillate between mirror points along field line 11. This
oscillation will then allow additional heating of the trapped plasma
12 by stochastic heating which is associated with trapped and
oscillating particles. See "A New Mechanism for Accelerating
Electrons in the Outer Ionosphere" by R. A. Helliwell and T. F.
Bell, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 65, No. 6, June, 1960.
This is preferably carried out at an altitude of at least 500 km.
The plasma of the typical example might be employed to modify or
disrupt microwave transmissions of satellites. If less than total
black-out of transmission is desired (e.g., scrambling by phase
shifting digital signals), the density of the plasma (N.sub.e) need
only be at least about 10.sup.6 per cubic centimeter for a plasma
orginating at an altitude of from about 250 to about 400 km and
accordingly less energy (i.e., electromagnetic radiation), e.g.,
10.sup.8 joules need be provided. Likewise, if the density N.sub.e
is on the order of 10.sup.8, a properly positioned plume will
provide a reflecting surface for VHF waves and can be used to
enhance, interfere with, or otherwise modify communication
transmissions. It can be seen from the foregoing that by appropriate
application of various aspects of this invention at strategic
locations and with adequate power sources, a means and method is
provided to cause interference with or even total disruption of
communications over a very large portion of the earth. This
invention could be employed to disrupt not only land based
communications, both civilian and military, but also airborne
communications and sea communications (both surface and subsurface).
This would have significant military implications, particularly as a
barrier to or confusing factor for hostile missiles or airplanes.
The belt or belts of enhanced ionization produced by the method and
apparatus of this invention, particularly if set up over Northern
Alaska and Canada, could be employed as an early warning device, as
well as a communications disruption medium. Further, the simple
ability to produce such a situation in a practical time period can
by itself be a deterring force to hostile action. The ideal
combination of suitable field lines intersecting the earth's surface
at the point where substantial fuel sources are available for
generation of very large quantitities of electromagnetic power, such
as the North Slope of Alaska, provides the wherewithal to accomplish
the foregoing in a practical time period, e.g., strategic
requirements could necessitate achieving the desired altered regions
in time periods of two minutes or less and this is achievable with
this invention, especially when the combination of natural gas and
magnetohydrodynamic, gas turbine, fuel cell and/or EGD electric
generators are employed at the point where the useful field lines
intersect the earth's surface. One feature of this invention which
satisfies a basic requirement of a weapon system, i.e., continuous
checking of operability, is that small amounts of power can be
generated for operability checking purposes. Further, in the
exploitation of this invention, since the main electromagnetic beam
which generates the enhanced ionized belt of this invention can be
modulated itself and/or one or more additional electromagnetic
radiation waves can be impinged on the ionized region formed by this
invention as will be described in greater detail herein after with
respect to FIG. 4, a substantial amount of randomly modulated
signals of very large power magnitude can be generated in a highly
nonlinear mode. This can cause confusion of or interference with or
even complete disruption of guidance systems employed by even the
most sophisticated of airplanes and missiles. The ability to employ
and transmit over very wide areas of the earth a plurality of
electromagnetic waves of varying frequencies and to change same at
will in a random manner, provides a unique ability to interfere with
all modes of communications, land, sea, and/or air, at the same
time. Because of the unique juxtaposition of usable fuel source at
the point where desirable field lines intersect the earth's surface,
such wide ranging and complete communication interference can be
achieved in a resonably short period of time. Because of the
mirroring phenomenon discussed hereinabove, it can also be prolonged
for substantial time periods so that it would not be a mere
transient effect that could simply be waited out by an opposing
force. Thus, this invention provides the ability to put
unprecedented amounts of power in the earth's atmosphere at
strategic locations and to maintain the power injection level,
particularly if random pulsing is employed, in a manner far more
precise and better controlled than heretofore accomplished by the
prior art, particularly by the detonation of nuclear devices of
various yeilds at various altitudes. Where the prior art approaches
yielded merely transitory effects, the unique combination of fuel
and desirable field lines at the point where the fuel occurs allows
the establishment of, compared to prior art approaches, precisely
controlled and long-lasting effects which cannot, practically
speaking, simply be waited out. Further, by knowing the frequencies
of the various electromagnetic beams employed in the practice of
this invention, it is possible not only to interfere with third
party communications but to take advantage of one or more such beams
to carry out a communications network even though the rest of the
world's communications are disrupted. Put another way, what is used
to disrupt another's communications can be employed by one
knowledgeable of this invention as a communications network at the
same time. In addition, once one's own communication network is
established, the far-reaching extent of the effects of this
invention could be employed to pick up communication signals of
other for intelligence purposes. Thus, it can be seen that the
disrupting effects achievable by this invention can be employed to
benefit by the party who is practicing this invention since
knowledge of the various electromagnetic waves being employed and
how they will vary in frequency and magnitude can be used to an
advantage for positive communication and eavesdropping purposes at
the same time. However, this invention is not limited to locations
where the fuel source naturally exists or where desirable field
lines naturally intersect the earth's surface. For example, fuel,
particularly hydrocarbon fuel, can be transported by pipeline and
the like to the location where the invention is to be practiced.
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment wherein a selected region of
plasma R.sub.3 which lies within the earth's ionosphere is altered
to increase the density thereof whereby a relatively stable layer 30
of relatively dense plasma is maintained within region R.sub.3.
Electromagnetic radiation is transmitted at the outset essentially
parallel to field line 11 via antenna 15 as a right hand circularly
polarized wave and at a frequency (e.g., 1.78 megahertz when the
magnetic field at the desired altitude is 0.66 gauss) capable of
exciting electron cyclotron resonance in plasma 12 at the particular
altitude of plasma 12. This causes heating of the particles
(electrons, ions, neutrals, and particulates) and ionization of the
uncharged particles adjacent line 11, all of which are absorbed into
plasma 12 to increase the density thereof. The power transmitted,
e.g., 2.times.10.sup.6 watts for up to 2 minutes heating time, is
less than that required to generate the mirror force F required to
move plasma 12 upward as in the previous embodiment.
While continuing to transmit electromagnetic radiation 20 from
antenna 15, a second electromagnetic radiation beam 31, which is at
a defined frequency different from the radiation from antenna 15, is
transmitted from one or more second sources via antenna 32 into
layer 30 and is absorbed into a portion of layer 30 (cross-hatched
area in FIG. 4). The electromagnetic radiation wave from antenna 32
is amplitude modulated to match a known mode of oscillation f.sub.3
in layer 30. This creates a resonance in layer 30 which excites a
new plasma wave 33 which also has a frequency of f.sub.3 and which
then propogates through the ionosphere. Wave 33 can be used to
improve or disrupt communications or both depending on what is
desired in a particular application. Of course, more than one new
wave 33 can be generated and the various new waves can be modulated
at will and in a highly nonlinear fashion.
FIG. 5 shows apparatus useful in this invention, particularly when
those applications of this invention are employed which require
extremely large amounts of power. In FIG. 5 there is shown the
earth's surface 40 with a well 41 extending downwardly thereinto
until it penetrates hydrocarbon producing reservoir 42. Hydrocarbon
reservoir 42 produces natural gas alone or in combination with crude
oil. Hydrocarbons are produced from reservoir 42 through well 41 and
wellhead 43 to a treating system 44 by way of pipe 45. In treater
44, desirable liquids such as crude oil and gas condensates are
separated and recovered by way of pipe 46 while undesirable gases
and liquids such as water, H.sub.2 S, and the like are separated by
way of pipe 47. Desirable gases such as carbon dioxide are separated
by way of pipe 48, and the remaining natural gas stream is removed
from treater 44 by way of pipe 49 for storage in conventional
tankage means (not shown) for future use and/or use in an electrical
generator such as a magnetohydrodynamic, gas turbine, fuel cell or
EGD generator 50. Any desired number and combination of different
types of electric generators can be employed in the practice of this
invention. The natural gas is burned in generator 50 to produce
substantial quantities of electricity which is then stored and/or
passed by way of wire 51 to a transmitter 52 which generates the
electromagnetic radiation to be used in the method of this
invention. The electromagnetic radiation is then passed by way of
wire 53 to antenna 54 which is located at or near the end of field
line 11. Antenna 54 sends circularly polarized radiation wave 20
upwards along field line 11 to carry out the various methods of this
invention as described hereinabove.
Of course, the fuel source need not be used in its
naturally-occurring state but could first be converted to another
second energy source form such as hydrogen, hydrazine and the like,
and electricity then generated from said second energy source form.
It can be seen from the foregoing that when desirable field line 11
intersects earth's surface 40 at or near a large naturally-occurring
hydrocarbon source 42, exceedingly large amounts of power can be
very efficiently produced and transmitted in the direction of field
lines. This is particularly so when the fuel source is natural gas
and magnetohydrodynamic generators are employed. Further, this can
all be accomplished in a relatively small physical area when there
is the unique coincidence of fuel source 42 and desirable field line
11. Of course, only one set of equipment is shown in FIG. 5 for sake
of simplicity. For a large hydrocarbon reservoir 42, a plurality of
wells 41 can be employed to feed one or more storage means and/or
treaters and as large a number of generators 55 as needed to power
one or more transmitters 52 and one or more antennas 54. Since all
of the apparatus 44 through 54 can be employed and used essentially
at the sight where naturally-occurring fuel source 42 is located,
all the necessary electromagnetic radiation 20 is generated
essentially at the same location as fuel source 42. This provides
for a maximum amount of usable electromagnetic radiation 20 since
there are no significant storage or transportation losses to be
incurred. In other words, the apparatus is brought to the sight of
the fuel source where desirable field line 11 intersects the earth's
surface 40 on or near the geographical location of fuel source 42,
fuel source 42 being at a desirable magnetic latitude for the
practice of this invention, for example, Alaska.
The generation of electricity by motion of a conducting fluid
through a magnetic field, i.e., magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), provides
a method of electric power generation without moving mechanical
parts and when the conducting fluid is a plasma formed by combustion
of a fuel such as natural gas, an idealized combination of apparatus
is realized since the very clean-burning natural gas forms the
conducting plasma in an efficient manner and the thus formed plasma,
when passed through a magnetic field, generates electricity in a
very efficient manner. Thus, the use of fuel source 42 to generate a
plasma by combustion thereof for the generation of electricity
essentially at the site of occurrence of the fuel source is unique
and ideal when high power levels are required and desirable field
lines 11 intersect the earth's surface 40 at or near the site of
fuel source 42. A particular advantage for MHD generators is that
they can be made to generate large amounts of power with a small
volume, light weight device. For example, a 1000 megawatt MHD
generator can be construed using superconducting magnets to weigh
roughly 42,000 pounds and can be readily air lifted.
This invention has a phenomenal variety of possible ramifications
and potential future developments. As alluded to earlier, missile or
aircraft destruction, deflection, or confusion could result,
particularly when relativistic particles are employed. Also, large
regions of the atmosphere could be lifted to an unexpectedly high
altitude so that missiles encounter unexpected and unplanned drag
forces with resultant destruction or deflection of same. Weather
modification is possible by, for example, altering upper atmosphere
wind patterns or altering solar absorption patterns by constructing
one or more plumes of atmospheric particles which will act as a lens
or focusing device. Also as alluded to earlier, molecular
modifications of the atmosphere can take place so that positive
environmental effects can be achieved. Besides actually changing the
molecular composition of an atmospheric region, a particular
molecule or molecules can be chosen for increased presence. For
example, ozone, nitrogen, etc. concentrations in the atmosphere
could be artificially increased. Similarly, environmental
enhancement could be achieved by causing the breakup of various
chemical entities such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous
oxides, and the like. Transportation of entities can also be
realized when advantage is taken of the drag effects caused by
regions of the atmosphere moving up along diverging field lines.
Small micron sized particles can be then transported, and, under
certain circumstances and with the availability of sufficient
energy, larger particles or objects could be similarly affected.
Particles with desired characteristics such as tackiness,
reflectivity, absorptivity, etc., can be transported for specific
purposes or effects. For example, a plume of tacky particles could
be established to increase the drag on a missile or satellite
passing therethrough. Even plumes of plasma having substantially
less charged particle density than described above will produce drag
effects on missiles which will affect a lightweight (dummy) missile
in a manner substantially different than a heavy (live) missile and
this affect can be used to distinguish between the two types of
missiles. A moving plume could also serve as a means for supplying a
space station or for focusing vast amount of sunlight on selected
portions of the earth. Surveys of global scope could also be
realized because the earth's natural magnetic field could be
significantly altered in a controlled manner by plasma beta effects
resulting in, for example, improved magnetotelluric surveys.
Electromagnetic pulse defenses are also possible. The earth's
magnetic field could be decreased or disrupted at appropriate
altitudes to modify or eliminate the magnetic field in high Compton
electron generation (e.g., from high altitude nuclear bursts)
regions. High intensity, well controlled electrical fields can be
provided in selected locations for various purposes. For example,
the plasma sheath surrounding a missile or satellite could be used
as a trigger for activating such a high intensity field to destroy
the missile or satellite. Further, irregularities can be created in
the ionosphere which will interfere with the normal operation of
various types of radar, e.g., synthetic aperture radar. The present
invention can also be used to create artificial belts of trapped
particles which in turn can be studied to determine the stability of
such parties. Still further, plumes in accordance with the present
invention can be formed to simulate and/or perform the same
functions as performed by the detonation of a "heave" type nuclear
device without actually having to detonate such a device. Thus it
can be seen that the ramifications are numerous, far-reaching, and
exceedingly varied in usefulness.
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