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Patent No. 4686605
Method and apparatus for altering a region in the earth's atmosphere, ionosphere, and/or magnetosphere (Eastlund, Aug 11, 1987)
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.
Notes:
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.