| 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.:
|
690333 |
| Filed:
|
January 10, 1985 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
361/231; 89/1.11; 244/158R; 380/59 |
| Intern'l Class: |
H05B 006/64; H05C 003/00; H05H 001/46 |
| Field of Search: |
361/230,231
244/158 R
376/100
89/1.11
380/59
|
References Cited
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: MacDonald; Roderick W.
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
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:
sin.sup.2 alpha.sub.o =B.sub.o /B.sub.m (1)
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:
v=df
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
F=-.mu..gradient.B (2)
where .mu. is the electron magnetic moment and .gradient. B is the gradient
of the magnetic field, .mu. being further defined as:
W.sub..perp. /B=mV.sub..perp..sup.2 /2B
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
1/2M.sub.e V.sub.e.perp..sup.2 (x).apprxeq.1/2M.sub.e V.sub.e.perp..sup.2
(Y)+1/2M.sub.i V.sub.i.parallel..sup.2 (Y) (3)
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.
* * * * *