HAARP PATENT
( 1 of 1 )
United States Patent 4,686,605
Eastlund August 11, 1987
Method and apparatus for altering a region in the earth's atmosphere, ionosphere, and/or magnetosphere
Abstract
A method and apparatus for altering at least one selected region which
normally exists above the earth's surface. The region is excited by
electron cyclotron resonance heating to thereby increase its charged
particle density. In one embodiment, circularly polarized
electromagnetic radiation is transmitted upward in a direction
substantially parallel to and along a field line which extends through
the region of plasma to be altered. The radiation is transmitted at a
frequency which excites electron cyclotron resonance to heat and
accelerate the charged particles. This increase in energy can cause
ionization of neutral particles which are then absorbed as part of the
region thereby increasing the charged particle density of the region.
Inventors: Eastlund; Bernard J. (Spring, TX)
Assignee: APTI, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA)
Appl. No.: 06/690,333
Filed: January 10, 1985
Current U.S. Class: 361/231 ; 244/158.1; 380/59; 89/1.11
Current International Class: H05H 1/02 (20060101); H05H 1/18
(20060101); F41G 7/20 (20060101); F41G 7/22 (20060101); F41H 13/00
(20060101); H01Q 1/36 (20060101); H05B 006/64 (); H05C 003/00 (); H05H
001/46 ()
Field of Search: 361/230,231 244/158R 376/100 89/1.11 380/59
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:
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.
* * * * *
