United S ta tes Pa tent [ 1 9 1

E a s tl u nd
[ 1 1 ] Pa tent Nu mber:
[ 4 5 ] D a te o f Pa tent:
4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
A u g . 1 1 , 1 9 8 7
[ 5 4 ] ME THOD A ND A PPA RA TUS FOR
A LTE RING A RE GION IN THE E A RTHS
A TMOS PHE RE , IONOS PHE RE , A ND / OR
MA GNE TOS PHE RE
[ 7 5 ] Inv ento r: B erna rd J . E a s tl u nd, S p ring , Tex .
[ 7 3 ] A s s ig nee: A PTI, Inc . , Lo s A ng el es , C a l if .
[ 2 1 ] A p p 1 . N0 . : 6 9 0 , 3 3 3
[ 2 2 ] Fil ed: J a n. 1 0 , 1 9 8 5
[ 5 1 ] Int. C l . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOS B 6 /6 4 ; HOS C 3 /0 0 ;
' HOS H 1 /4
[ 5 2 ] US . C l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 1 /2 3 1 ; 8 9 / 1 . 1 1 ;
3 8 0 /5 9 ; 2 4 4 /1 5 8 R
[ 5 8 ] Fiel d o f S ea rc h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 1 /2 3 0 , 2 3 1 ;
2 4 4 /1 5 8 R; 3 7 6 /1 0 0 ; 8 9 /l . 1 l ; 3 8 0 /5 9
[ 5 6 ] Ref erenc es C ited
PUB LIC A TIONS
Liberty Ma g a z ine, ( 2 /3 5 ) p . 7 N. Tes l a .
New Yo rk Times ( 9 /2 2 /4 0 ) S ec tio n 2 , p . 7 W. L. La u
renc e.
New Yo rk Times ( 1 2 /8 /1 5 ) p . 8 C o l . 3 .
Prima ry E x a miner- S a l v a to re C a ng ia l o s i
A tto rney , A g ent, o r Firm Ro deric k W. Ma c D o na l d
[ 5 7 ] A B S TRA C T
A metho d a nd a p p a ra tu s f o r a l tering a t l ea s t o ne s e
l ec ted reg io n whic h no rma l l y ex is ts a bo v e the ea rth s
s u rf a c e. The reg io n is ex c ited by el ec tro n c y c l o tro n
res o na nc e hea ting to thereby inc rea s e its c ha rg ed p a rti
c l e dens ity . In o ne embo diment, c irc u l a rl y p o l a riz ed
el ec tro ma g netic ra dia tio n is tra ns mitted u p wa rd in a
direc tio n s u bs ta ntia l l y p a ra l l el to a nd a l o ng a ? el d l ine
whic h ex tends thro u g h the reg io n o f p l a s ma to be a l
tered. The ra dia tio n is tra ns mitted a t a f req u enc y whic h
ex c ites el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e to hea t a nd a c c el
era te the c ha rg ed p a rtic l es . This inc rea s e in energ y c a n
c a u s e io niz a tio n o f neu tra l p a rtic l es whic h a re then
a bs o rbed a s p a rt o f the reg io n thereby inc rea s ing the
c ha rg ed p a rtic l e dens ity o f the reg io n.
1 5 C l a ims , 5 D ra wing Fig u res
S OUTH
POLE
U. S . Pa tent A u g . 1 1 , 1 9 8 7 S heetl 0 1 3 4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
U. S . Pa tent A u g . 1 1 , 1 9 8 7 S heet2 o f 3 4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
U. S . Pa tent A u g . 1 1 , 1 9 8 7 - S heet3 0 T3 4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
4 5 4 % we 4 9 /5 0 5 1 , 5 2
TRE A TE R i GE N' Q Q Q TOR L TRA NS MITTE R
FIG. 5
4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
1
ME THOD A ND A PPA RA TUS FOR A LTE RING A
' RE GION IN THE E A RTH S A TMOS PHE RE ,
IONOS PHE RE , A ND /OR MA GNE TOS PHE RE
D E S C RIPTION
1 . Tec hnic a l Fiel d
This inv entio n rel a tes to a metho d a nd a p p a ra tu s f o r
a l tering a t l ea s t o ne s el ec ted reg io n no rma l l y ex is ting
a bo v e the ea rth s s u rf a c e a nd mo re p a rtic u l a rl y rel a tes
to a metho d a nd a p p a ra tu s f o r a l tering s a id a t l ea s t o ne
reg io n by initia l l y tra ns mitting el ec tro ma g netic ra dia
tio n f ro m the ea rth s s u rf a c e es s entia l l y p a ra l l el to a nd
a l o ng na tu ra l l y - o c c u rring , div erg ent ma g netic ? el d
l ines whic h ex tend f ro m the ea rth s s u rf a c e thro u g h the
reg io n o r reg io ns to be a l tered.
2 . B a c kg ro u nd A rt
In the l a te 1 9 5 0 s , it wa s dis c o v ered tha t na tu ra l l y
o c c u ring bel ts ex is t a t hig h a l titu des a bo v e the ea rth s
s u rf a c e, a nd it is no w es ta bl is hed tha t thes e bel ts res u l t
f ro m c ha rg ed el ec tro ns a nd io ns bec o ming tra p p ed
a l o ng the ma g netic l ines o f f o rc e ( ? el d l ines ) o f the
ea rth s es s entia l l y dip o l e ma g netic ? el d. The tra p p ed
el ec tro ns a nd io ns a re c o n? ned a l o ng the ? el d l ines
between two ma g netic mirro rs whic h ex is t a t s p a c ed
a p a rt p o ints a l o ng tho s e ? el d l ines . The tra p p ed el ec
tro ns a nd io ns mo v e in hel ic a l p a ths a ro u nd their p a rtic
u l a r ? el d l ines a nd bo u nc e ba c k a nd f o rth between
the ma g netic mirro rs . Thes e tra p p ed el ec tro ns a nd io ns
c a n o s c il l a te a l o ng the ? el d l ines f o r l o ng p erio ds o f
time.
In the p a s t s ev era l y ea rs , s u bs ta ntia l ef f o rt ha s been
ma de to u nders ta nd a nd ex p l a in the p heno mena in
v o l v ed in bel ts o f tra p p ed el ec tro ns a nd io ns , a nd to
ex p l o re p o s s ibl e wa y s to c o ntro l a nd u s e thes e p heno m
ena f o r bene? c ia l p u rp o s es . Fo r ex a mp l e, in the l a te
1 9 5 0 s a nd ea rl y 1 9 6 0 s bo th the United S ta tes a nd
U. S . S . R. deto na ted a s eries o f nu c l ea r dev ic es o f v a ri
o u s y iel ds to g enera te l a rg e nu mbers o f c ha rg ed p a rti
c l es a t v a rio u s a l titu des , e. g . , 2 0 0 kil o meters ( km) o r
g rea ter. This wa s do ne in o rder to es ta bl is h a nd s tu dy
a rti? c a l bel ts o f tra p p ed el ec tro ns a nd io ns . Thes e ex
p eriments es ta bl is hed tha t a t l ea s t s o me o f the ex tra ne
o u s el ec tro ns a nd io ns f ro m the deto na ted dev ic es did
bec o me tra p p ed a l o ng ? el d l ines in the ea rth s ma g neto
s p here to f o rm a rti? c ia l bel ts whic h were s ta bl e f o r
p ro l o ng ed p erio ds o f time. Fo r a dis c u s s io n o f thes e
ex p eriments s ee The Ra dia tio n B el t a nd Ma g neto
s p here, W. N. Hes s , B l a is del l Pu bl is hing C o . , 1 9 6 8 ,
p p s . 1 5 5 et s ec .
Other p ro p o s a l s whic h ha v e been a dv a nc ed f o r a l ter
ing ex is ting bel ts o f tra p p ed el ec tro ns a nd io ns a nd/o r
es ta bl is hing s imil a r a rti? c ia l bel ts inc l u de inj ec ting
c ha rg ed p a rtic l es f ro m a s a tel l ite c a rry ing a p a y l o a d o f
ra dio a c tiv e beta - dec a y ma teria l o r a l p ha emitters ; a nd
inj ec ting c ha rg ed p a rtic l es f ro m a s a tel l ite- bo rne el ec
tro n a c c el era to r. S til l a no ther a p p ro a c h is des c ribed in
US . Pa t. - No . 4 , 0 4 2 , 1 9 6 wherein a l o w energ y io niz ed
g a s , e. g . , hy dro g en, is rel ea s ed f ro m a s y nc hro no u s
o rbiting s a tel l ite nea r the a p ex o f a ra dia tio n bel t whic h
is na tu ra l l y - o c c u rring in the ea rth s ma g neto s p here to
p ro du c e a s u bs ta ntia l inc rea s e in energ etic p a rtic l e p re
c ip ita tio n a nd, u nder c erta in c o nditio ns , p ro du c e a l imit
in the nu mber o f p a rtic l es tha t c a n be s ta bl y tra p p ed.
This p rec ip ita tio n ef f ec t a ris es f ro m a n enha nc ement o f
the whis tl er- mo de a nd io n- c y c l o tro n mo de intera c tio ns
3 5
4 5
6 0
2
tha t res u l t f ro m the io niz ed g a s o r c o l d p l a s ma inj ec
tio n.
It ha s a l s o been p ro p o s ed to rel ea s e l a rg e c l o u ds o f
ba riu m in the ma g neto s p here s o tha t p ho to io niz a tio n
wil l inc rea s e the c o l d p l a s ma dens ity , thereby p ro du c
ing el ec tro n p rec ip ita tio n thro u g h enha nc ed whis tl er
mo de intera c tio ns .
Ho wev er, in a l l o f the a bo v e- mentio ned a p p ro a c hes ,
the mec ha nis ms inv o l v ed in trig g ering the c ha ng e in the
tra p p ed p a rtic l e p heno mena mu s t be a c tu a l l y p o s itio ned
within the a f f ec ted z o ne, e. g . , the ma g neto s p here, be
f o re they c a n be a c tu a ted to ef f ec t the des ired c ha ng e.
The ea rth s io no s p here is no t c o ns idered to be a
tra p p ed bel t s inc e there a re f ew tra p p ed p a rtic l es
therein. The term tra p p ed herein ref ers to s itu a tio ns
where the f o rc e o f g ra v ity o n the tra p p ed p a rtic l es is
ba l a nc ed by ma g netic f o rc es ra ther tha n hy dro s ta tic o r
c o l l is io na l f o rc es . The c ha rg ed el ec tro ns a nd io ns in the
io no s p here a l s o f o l l o w hel ic a l p a ths a ro u nd ma g netic
? el d l ines within the io no s p here bu t a re no t tra p p ed
between mirro rs , a s in the c a s e o f the tra p p ed bel ts in
the ma g neto s p here, s inc e the g ra v ita tio na l f o rc e o n the
p a rtic l es is ba l a nc ed by c o l l is io na l o r hy dro s ta tic f o rc es .
In rec ent y ea rs , a nu mber o f ex p eriments ha v e a c tu
a l l y been c a rried o u t to mo dif y the io no s p here in s o me
c o ntro l l ed ma nner to inv es tig a te the p o s s ibil ity o f a
bene? c ia l res u l t. Fo r deta il ed dis c u s s io ns o f thes e o p era
tio ns s ee the f o l l o wing p a p ers : ( 1 ) Io no s p heric Mo di?
c a tio n Theo ry ; G. Mel tz a nd F. W. Perkins ; ( 2 ) The
Pl a ttev il l e Hig h Po wer Fa c il ity ; C a rro l et a l . ; ( 3 ) A re
c ibo Hea ting E x p eriments ; W. E . Go rdo n a nd H. C .
C a rl s o n, J r. ; a nd ( 4 ) Io no s p heric Hea ting by Po werf u l
Ra dio Wa v es ; Mel tz et a 1 . , a l l p u bl is hed in Ra dio S c i
enc e, V o l . 9 , No . 1 1 , No v ember, 1 9 7 4 , a t p a g es 8 8 5 - 8 8 8 ;
8 8 9 - 8 9 4 ; 1 0 4 1 - 1 0 4 7 ; a nd 1 0 4 9 - 1 0 6 3 , res p ec tiv el y , a l l o f
whic h a re inc o rp o ra ted herein by ref erenc e. In s u c h
ex p eriments , c erta in reg io ns o f the io no s p here a re
hea ted to c ha ng e the el ec tro n dens ity a nd temp era tu re
within thes e reg io ns . This is a c c o mp l is hed by tra ns mit
ting f ro m ea rth- ba s ed a ntenna e hig h f req u enc y el ec tro
ma g netic ra dia tio n a t a s u bs ta ntia l a ng l e to , no t p a ra l l el
to , the io no s p here s ma g netic ? el d to hea t the io no
s p heric p a rtic l es p rima ril y by o hmic hea ting . The el ec
tro n temp era tu re o f the io no s p here ha s been ra is ed by
hu ndreds o f deg rees in thes e ex p eriments , a nd el ec tro ns
with s ev era l el ec tro n v o l ts o f energ y ha v e been p ro
du c ed in nu mbers s u f ? c ient to enha nc e a irg l o w. E l ec
tro n c o nc entra tio ns ha v e been redu c ed by a f ew p er
c ent, du e to ex p a ns io n o f the p l a s ma a s a res u l t o f in
c rea s ed temp era tu re.
In the E l mo B u mp y To ru s ( E B T) , a c o ntro l l ed f u s io n
dev ic e a t the Oa k Ridg e Na tio na l La bo ra to ry , a l l hea t
ing is p ro v ided by mic ro wa v es a t the el ec tro n c y c l o tro n
res o na nc e intera c tio n. A ring o f ho t el ec tro ns is f o rmed
a t the ea rth s s u rf a c e in the ma g netic rnirro r by a c o mbi- .
na tio n o f el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e a nd s to c ha s tic
hea ting . In the E B T, the ring el ec tro ns a re p ro du c ed
with a n a v era g e temp era tu re o f 2 5 0 kil o el ec tro n
v o l ts o r kev ( 2 . 5 X 1 0 9 K ) a nd a p l a s ma beta between 0 . 1
a nd 0 . 4 ; s ee, A Theo retic a l S tu dy o f E l ec tro n- C y c l o
tro n A bs o rp tio n in E l mo B u mp y To ru s , B a tc hel o r a nd
Go l d? ng er, Nu c l ea r Fu s io n, V o l . 2 0 , No . 4 ( 1 9 8 0 ) p p s .
4 0 3 - 4 1 8 .
E l ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e hea ting ha s been u s ed
in ex p eriments o n the ea rth s s u rf a c e to p ro du c e a nd
a c c el era te p l a s ma s in a div erg ing ma g netic ? el d. K o s
ma hl et a l . s ho wed tha t p o wer wa s tra ns f erred f ro m the
el ec tro ma g netic wa v es a nd tha t a f u l l y io niz ed p l a s ma
4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
3
wa s a c c el era ted with a div erg enc e a ng l e o f ro u g hl y 1 3
deg rees . Op timu m neu tra l g a s dens ity wa s l . 7 > < l 0 l 4 p er
c u bic c entimeter; s ee, Pl a s ma A c c el era tio n with Mi
c ro wa v es Nea r C y c l o tro n Res o na nc e, K o s ma hl et a l . ,
J o u rna l o f A p p l ied Phy s ic s , V o l . 3 8 , No . 1 2 , No v . , 1 9 6 7 ,
p p s . 4 5 7 6 - 4 5 8 2 .
D IS C LOS URE OF THE INV E NTION
The p res ent inv entio n p ro v ides a metho d a nd a p p a ra
tu s f o r a l tering a t l ea s t o ne s el ec ted reg io n whic h no r
ma l l y ex is ts a bo v e the ea rth s s u rf a c e. The reg io n is
ex c ited by el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e hea ting o f el ec
tro ns whic h a re a l rea dy p res ent a nd/o r a rti? c a l l y c re
a ted in the reg io n to thereby inc rea s e the c ha rg ed p a rti
c l e energ y a nd u l tima tel y the dens ity o f the reg io n.
In o ne embo diment this is do ne by tra ns mitting c irc u
l a rl y p o l a riz ed el ec tro ma g netic ra dia tio n f ro m the
ea rth s s u rf a c e a t o r nea r the l o c a tio n where a na tu ra l l y
o c c u rring dip o l e ma g netic ? el d ( f o rc e) l ine inters ec ts
the ea rth s s u rf a c e. Rig ht ha nd c irc u l a r p o l a riz a tio n is
u s ed in the no rthern hemis p here a nd l ef t ha nd c irc u l a r
p o l a riz a tio n is u s ed in the s o u thern hemis p here. The
ra dia tio n is del ibera tel y tra ns mitted a t the o u ts et in a
direc tio n s u bs ta ntia l l y p a ra l l el to a nd a l o ng a ? el d l ine
whic h ex tends u p wa rdl y thro u g h the reg io n to be a l
tered. The ra dia tio n is tra ns mitted a t a f req u enc y whic h
is ba s ed o n the g y ro f req u enc y o f the c ha rg ed p a rtic l es
a nd whic h, when a p p l ied to the a t l ea s t o ne reg io n,
ex c ites el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e within the reg io n
o r reg io ns to hea t a nd a c c el era te the c ha rg ed p a rtic l es
in their res p ec tiv e hel ic a l p a ths a ro u nd a nd a l o ng the
? el d l ine. S u f ? c ient- energ y is emp l o y ed to c a u s e io niz a
tio n o f neu tra l p a rtic l es ( mo l ec u l es o f o x y g en, nitro g en
a nd the l ike, p a rtic u l a tes , etc . ) whic h then bec o me a
p a rt o f the reg io n thereby inc rea s ing the c ha rg ed p a rti
c l e dens ity o f the reg io n. This ef f ec t c a n f u rther be
enha nc ed by p ro v iding a rti? c ia l p a rtic l es , e. g . , el ec
tro ns , io ns , etc . , direc tl y into the reg io n to be a f f ec ted
f ro m a ro c ket, s a tel l ite, o r the l ike to s u p p l ement the
p a rtic l es in the na tu ra l l y - o c c u rring p l a s ma . Thes e a rti
? c ia l p a rtic l es a re a l s o io niz ed by the tra ns mitted el ec
tro ma g netic ra dia tio n thereby inc rea s ing c ha rg ed p a rti
c l e dens ity o f the res u l ting p l a s ma in the reg io n.
In a no ther embo diment o f the inv entio n, el ec tro n
c y c l o tro n res o na nc e hea ting is c a rried o u t in the s e
l ec ted reg io n o r reg io ns a t s u f ? c ient p o wer l ev el s to
a l l o w a p l a s ma p res ent in the reg io n to g enera te a mir~
ro r f o rc e whic h f o rc es the c ha rg ed el ec tro ns o f the
a l tered p l a s ma u p wa rd a l o ng the f o rc e l ine to a n a l ti
tu de whic h is hig her tha n the o rig ina l a l titu de. In this
c a s e the rel ev a nt mirro r p o ints a re a t the ba s e o f the
a l tered reg io n o r reg io ns . The c ha rg ed el ec tro ns dra g
io ns with them a s wel l a s o ther p a rtic l es tha t ma y be
p res ent. S u f ? c ient p o wer, e. g . , 1 0 1 5 j o u l es , c a n be a p
p l ied s o tha t the a l tered p l a s ma c a n be tra p p ed o n the
? el d l ine between mirro r p o ints a nd wil l o s c il l a te in
s p a c e f o r p ro l o ng ed p erio ds o f time. B y this embo di
ment, a p l u me o f a l tered p l a s ma c a n be es ta bl is hed a t
s el ec ted l o c a tio ns f o r c o mmu nic a tio n mo di? c a tio n o r
o ther p u rp o s es .
In a no ther embo diment, this inv entio n is u s ed to a l ter
a t l ea s t o ne s el ec ted reg io n o f p l a s ma in the io no s p here
to es ta bl is h a de? ned l a y er o f p l a s ma ha v ing a n in
c rea s ed c ha rg ed p a rtic l e dens ity . Onc e this l a y er is
2 0
2 5
3 5
4 5
5 5
6 0
es ta bl is hed, a nd whil e ma inta ining the tra ns mis s io n o f 6 5
the ma in bea m o f c irc u l a rl y p o l a riz ed el ec tro ma g netic
ra dia tio n, the ma in bea m is mo du l a ted a nd/o r a t l ea s t
o ne s ec o nd dif f erent, mo du l a ted el ec tro ma g netic ra dia
4
tio n bea m is tra ns mitted f ro m a t l ea s t o ne s ep a ra te
s o u rc e a t a dif f erent f req u enc y whic h wil l be a bs o rbed
in the p l a s ma l a y er. The a mp l itu de o f the f req u enc y o f
the ma in bea m a nd/o r the s ec o nd bea m o r bea ms is
mo du l a ted in res o na nc e with a t l ea s t o ne kno wn o s c il l a
tio n mo de in the s el ec ted reg io n o r reg io ns to ex c ite the
kno wn o s c il l a tio n mo de to p ro p a g a te a kno wn f re
q u enc y wa v e o r wa v es thro u g ho u t the io no s p here.
B RIE F D E S C RIPTION OF THE D RA WINGS
The a c tu a l c o ns tru c tio n, o p era tio n, a nd a p p a rent
a dv a nta g es o f this inv entio n wil l be better u nders to o d
by ref erring to the dra wing s in whic h l ike nu mera l s
identif y l ike p a rts a nd in whic h:
FIG. 1 is a s imp l i? ed s c hema tic a l v iew o f the ea rth
( no t to s c a l e) with a ma g netic ? el d ( f o rc e) l ine a l o ng
whic h the p res ent inv entio n is c a rried o u t;
FIG. 2 is o ne embo diment within the p res ent inv en
tio n in whic h a s el ec ted reg io n o f p l a s ma is ra is ed to a
hig her a l titu de;
FIG. 3 is a s imp l i? ed, idea l iz ed rep res enta tio n o f a
p hy s ic a l p heno meno n inv o l v ed in the p res ent inv entio n;
a nd
FIG. 4 is a s c hema tic v iew o f a no ther embo diment
within the p res ent inv entio n.
FIG. 5 is a s c hema tic v iew o f a n a p p a ra tu s embo di
ment within this inv entio n.
B E S T MOD E S FOR C A RRYING OUT THE
INV E NTION
The ea rth s ma g netic ? el d is s o mewha t a na l o g o u s to
a dip o l e ba r ma g net. A s s u c h, the ea rth s ma g netic ? el d
c o nta ins nu mero u s div erg ent ? el d o r f o rc e l ines , ea c h
l ine inters ec ting the ea rth s s u rf a c e a t p o ints o n o p p o s ite
s ides o f the E q u a to r. The ? el d l ines whic h inters ec t the
ea rth s s u rf a c e nea r the p o l es ha v e a p ex es whic h l ie a t
the f u rthes t p o ints in the ea rth s ma g neto s p here whil e
tho s e c l o s es t to the E q u a to r ha v e a p ex es whic h rea c h
o nl y the l o wer p o rtio n o f the ma g neto s p here.
A t v a rio u s a l titu des a bo v e the ea rth s s u rf a c e, e. g . , in
bo th the io no s p here a nd the ma g neto s p here, p l a s ma is
na tu ra l l y p res ent a l o ng thes e ? el d l ines . This p l a s ma
c o ns is ts o f eq u a l nu mbers o f p o s itiv el y a nd neg a tiv el y
c ha rg ed p a rtic l es ( i. e. , el ec tro ns a nd io ns ) whic h a re
g u ided by the ? el d l ine. It is wel l es ta bl is hed tha t a
c ha rg ed p a rtic l e in a ma g netic ? el d g y ra tes a bo u t ? el d
l ines , the c enter o f g y ra tio n a t a ny ins ta nc e being c a l l ed
the g u iding c enter o f the p a rtic l e. A s the g y ra ting
p a rtic l e mo v es a l o ng a f iel d l ine in a u nif o rm ? el d, it
wil l f o l l o w a hel ic a l p a th a bo u t its g u iding c enter, henc e
l inea r mo tio n, a nd wil l rema in o n the ? el d l ine. E l ec
tro ns a nd io ns bo th f o l l o w hel ic a l p a ths a ro u nd a ? el d
l ine bu t ro ta te in o p p o s ite direc tio ns . The f req u enc ies a t
whic h the el ec tro ns a nd io ns ro ta te a bo u t the ? el d l ine
a re c a l l ed g y ro ma g netic f req u enc ies o r c y c l o tro n f re
q u enc ies bec a u s e they a re identic a l with the ex p res s io n
f o r the a ng u l a r f req u enc ies o f g y ra tio n o f p a rtic l es in a
c y c l o tro n. The c y c l o tro n f req u enc y o f io ns in a g iv en
ma g netic ? el d is l es s tha n tha t o f el ec tro ns , in inv ers e
p ro p o rtio n to their ma s s es .
If the p a rtic l es whic h f o rm the p l a s ma a l o ng the
ea rth s ? el d l ines c o ntinu ed to mo v e with a c o ns ta nt
p itc h a ng l e, o f ten des ig na ted a l p ha , they wo u l d s o o n
imp a c t o n the ea rth s s u rf a c e. Pitc h a ng l e a l p ha is de
? ned a s the a ng l e between the direc tio n o f the ea rth s
ma g netic ? el d a nd the v el o c ity ( V ) o f the p a rtic l e.
Ho wev er, in c o nv erg ing f o rc e ? el ds , the p itc h a ng l e
do es c ha ng e in s u c h a wa y a s to a l l o w the p a rtic l e to
4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
5
tu rn a ro u nd a nd a v o id imp a c t. C o ns ider a p a rtic l e mo v
ing a l o ng a ? el d l ine do wn to wa rd the ea rth. It mo v es
into a reg io n o f inc rea s ing ma g netic ? el d s treng th a nd
theref o re s ine a l p ha inc rea s es . B u t s ine a l p ha c a n o nl y
inc rea s e to 1 . 0 , a t whic h p o int, the p a rtic l e tu rns a ro u nd
a nd s ta rts mo v ing u p a l o ng the ? el d l ine, a nd a l p ha
dec rea s es . The p o int a t whic h the p a rtic l e tu rns a ro u nd
is c a l l ed the mirro r p o int, a nd there a l p ha eq u a l s ninety
deg rees . This p ro c es s is rep ea ted a t the o ther end o f the
? el d l ine where the s a me ma g netic ? el d s treng th v a l u e
B , na mel y B m, ex is ts . The p a rtic l e a g a in tu rns a ro u nd
a nd this is c a l l ed the c o nj u g a te p o int o f the o rig ina l
mirro r p o int. The p a rtic l e is theref o re tra p p ed a nd
bo u nc es between the two ma g netic mirro rs . The p a rti
c l e c a n c o ntinu e o s c il l a ting in s p a c e in this ma nner f o r
l o ng p erio ds o f time. The a c tu a l p l a c e where a p a rtic l e
wil l mirro r c a n be c a l c u l a ted f ro m the f o l l o wing :
s in2 a l p ha a = B a /B m ( 1 )
wherein:
a l p ha o = eq u a to ria l p itc h a ng l e o f p a rtic l e
B o = eq u a to ria l ? el d s treng th o n a p a rtic u l a r ? el d l ine
B m= ? el d s treng th a t the mirro r p o int
Rec ent dis c o v eries ha v e es ta bl is hed tha t there a re
s u bs ta ntia l reg io ns o f na tu ra l l y tra p p ed p a rtic l es in
s p a c e whic h a re c o mmo nl y c a l l ed tra p p ed ra dia tio n
bel ts . Thes e bel ts o c c u r a t a l titu des g rea ter tha n a bo u t
5 0 0 km a nd a c c o rding l y l ie in the ma g neto s p here a nd
mo s tl y a bo v e the io no s p here. ,
The io no s p here, whil e it ma y o v erl a p s o me o f the
tra p p ed- p a rtic l e bel ts , is a reg io n in whic h hy dro s ta tic
f o rc es g o v ern its p a rtic l e dis tribu tio n in the g ra v ita
tio na l ? el d. Pa rtic l e mo tio n within the io no s p here is
g o v erned by bo th hy dro dy na mic a nd el ec tro dy na mic
f o rc es . Whil e there a re f ew tra p p ed p a rtic l es in the
io no s p here, nev erthel es s , p l a s ma is p res ent a l o ng ? el d
l ines in the io no s p here. The c ha rg ed p a rtic l es whic h
f o rm this p l a s ma mo v e between c o l l is io ns with o ther
p a rtic l es a l o ng s imil a r hel ic a l p a ths a ro u nd the ? el d
l ines a nd a l tho u g h a p a rtic u l a r p a rtic l e ma y dif f u s e
do wnwa rd into the ea rth s l o wer a tmo s p here o r l o s e
energ y a nd div erg e f ro m its o rig ina l ? el d l ine du e to
c o l l is io ns with o ther p a rtic l es , thes e c ha rg ed p a rtic l es
a re no rma l l y rep l a c ed by o ther a v a il a bl e c ha rg ed p a rti
c l es o r by p a rtic l es tha t a re io niz ed by c o l l is io n with
s a id p a rtic l e. The el ec tro n dens ity ( Ne) o f the p l a s ma
wil l v a ry with the a c tu a l c o nditio ns a nd l o c a tio ns in
v o l v ed. A l s o , neu tra l p a rtic l es , io ns , a nd el ec tro ns a re
p res ent in p ro x imity to the ? el d l ines .
The p ro du c tio n o f enha nc ed io niz a tio n wil l a l s o a l ter
the dis tribu tio n o f a to mic a nd mo l ec u l a r c o ns titu ents o f
the a tmo s p here, mo s t no ta bl y thro u g h inc rea s ed a to mic
nitro g en c o nc entra tio n. The u p p er a tmo s p here is no r
ma l l y ric h in a to mic o x y g en ( the do mina nt a tmo s p heric
c o ns titu ent a bo v e 2 0 0 km a l titu de) , bu t a to mic nitro g en
is no rma l l y rel a tiv el y ra re. This c a n be ex p ec ted to
ma nif es t its el f in inc rea s ed a irg l o w, a mo ng o ther ef
f ec ts .
A s kno wn in p l a s ma p hy s ic s , the c ha ra c teris tic s o f a
p l a s ma c a n be a l tered by a dding energ y to the c ha rg ed
p a rtic l es o r by io niz ing o r ex c iting a dditio na l p a rtic l es
to inc rea s e the dens ity o f the p l a s ma . One wa y to do this
is by hea ting the p l a s ma whic h c a n be a c c o mp l is hed in
dif f erent wa y s , e. g . , o hmic , ma g netic c o mp res s io n,
s ho c k wa v es , ma g netic p u mp ing , el ec tro n c y c l o tro n
res o na nc e, a nd the l ike.
S inc e el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e hea ting is in
v o l v ed in the p res ent inv entio n, a brief dis c u s s io n o f
O
2 0
6 0
6 5
6
s a me is in o rder. Inc rea s ing the energ y o f el ec tro ns in a
p l a s ma by inv o king el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e hea t
ing , is ba s ed o n a p rinc ip l e s imil a r to tha t u til iz ed to
a c c el era te c ha rg ed p a rtic l es in a c y c l o tro n. If a p l a s ma
is c o n? ned by a s ta tic a x ia l ma g netic ? el d o f s treng th B ,
the c ha rg ed p a rtic l es wil l g y ra te a bo u t the l ines o f f o rc e
with a f req u enc y g iv en, in hertz , a s f 8 : l . 5 4 > < l 0 3 B /A ,
where: B = ma g netic ? el d s treng th in g a u s s , a nd A :
ma s s nu mber o f the io n.
S u p p o s e a time- v a ry ing ? el d o f this f req u enc y is s u
p erimp o s ed o n the s ta tic ? el d B c o n? ning the p l a s ma ,
by p a s s a g e o f a ra dio f req u enc y c u rrent thro u g h a c o il
whic h is c o nc entric with tha t p ro du c ing the a x ia l ? el d,
then in ea c h ha l f - c y c l e o f their ro ta tio n a bo u t the ? el d
l ines , the c ha rg ed p a rtic l es a c q u ire energ y f ro m the
o s c il l a ting el ec tric ? el d a s s o c ia ted with the ra dio f re
q u enc y . Fo r ex a mp l e, if B is 1 0 , 0 0 0 g a u s s , the f req u enc y
o f the ? el d whic h is in res o na nc e with p ro to ns in a
p l a s ma is 1 5 . 4 meg a hertz . ,
A s a p p l ied to el ec tro ns , el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e
hea ting req u ires a n o s c il l a ting ? el d ha v ing a de? nite
f req u enc y determined by the s treng th o f the c o n? ning
? el d. The ra dio - f req u enc y ra dia tio n p ro du c es time
v a ry ing ? el ds ( el ec tric a nd ma g netic ) , a nd the el ec tric
? el d a c c el era tes the c ha rg ed p a rtic l e. The energ iz ed
el ec tro ns s ha re their energ y with io ns a nd neu tra l s by
u nderg o ing c o l l is io ns with thes e p a rtic l es , thereby ef
f ec tiv el y ra is ing the temp era tu re o f the el ec tro ns , io ns ,
a nd neu tra l s . The a p p o rtio nment o f energ y a mo ng thes e
s p ec ies is determined by c o l l is io n f req u enc ies . Fo r a
mo re deta il ed u nders ta nding o f the p hy s ic s inv o l v ed,
s ee C o ntro l l ed Thermo nu c l ea r Rea c tio ns , Gl a s s to ne
a nd Lo v berg , D . V a n No s tra nd C o mp a ny , Inc . , Princ e
to n, N. J . , 1 9 6 0 a nd The Ra dia tio n B el t a nd Ma g neto
s p here, Hes s , B l a is del l Pu bl is hing C o mp a ny , 1 9 6 8 ,
bo th o f whic h a re inc o rp o ra ted herein by ref erenc e.
Ref erring no w to the dra wing s , the p res ent inv entio n
p ro v ides a metho d a nd a p p a ra tu s f o r a l tering a t l ea s t
o ne reg io n o f p l a s ma whic h l ies a l o ng a ? el d l ine, p a rtic
u l a rl y when it p a s s es thro u g h the io no s p here a nd/o r
ma g neto s p here. FIG. 1 is a s imp l i? ed il l u s tra tio n o f the
ea rth 1 0 a nd o ne o f its dip o l e ma g netic f o rc e o r ? el d
l ines 1 1 . A s wil l be u nders to o d, l ine 1 1 ma y be a ny o ne
o f the nu mero u s na tu ra l l y ex is ting ? el d l ines a nd the
a c tu a l g eo g ra p hic a l l o c a tio ns 1 3 a nd 1 4 o f l ine 1 1 wil l be
c ho s en ba s ed o n a p a rtic u l a r o p era tio n to be c a rried o u t.
The a c tu a l l o c a tio ns a t whic h ? el d l ines inters ec t the
ea rth s s u rf a c e is do c u mented a nd is rea dil y a s c erta in
a bl e by tho s e s kil l ed in the a rt.
Line 1 1 p a s s es thro u g h reg io n R whic h l ies a t a n
a l titu de a bo v e the ea rth s s u rf a c e. A wide ra ng e o f a l ti
tu des a re u s ef u l g iv en the p o wer tha t c a n be emp l o y ed
by the p ra c tic e o f this inv entio n. The el ec tro n c y c l o tro n
res o na nc e hea ting ef f ec t c a n be ma de to a c t o n el ec tro ns
a ny where a bo v e the s u rf a c e o f the ea rth. Thes e el ec
tro ns ma y be a l rea dy p res ent in the a tmo s p here, io no
s p here, a nd/o r ma g neto s p here o f the ea rth, o r c a n be
a rti? c ia l l y g enera ted by a v a riety o f mea ns s u c h a s x - ra y
bea ms , c ha rg ed p a rtic l e bea ms , l a s ers , the p l a s ma s hea th
s u rro u nding a n o bj ec t s u c h a s a mis s il e o r meteo r, a nd
the l ike. Fu rther, a rti? c ia l p a rtic l es , e. g . , el ec tro ns , io ns ,
etc . , c a n be inj ec ted direc tl y into reg io n R f ro m a n
ea rth- l a u nc hed ro c ket o r o rbiting s a tel l ite c a rry ing , f o r
ex a mp l e, a p a y l o a d o f ra dio a c tiv e beta - dec a y ma teria l ;
a l p ha emitters ; a n el ec tro n a c c el era to r; a nd/o r io niz ed
g a s es s u c h a s hy dro g en; s ee US . Pa t. No . 4 , 0 4 2 , 1 9 6 .
The a l titu de c a n be g rea ter tha n a bo u t 5 0 km if des ired,
4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
7
e. g . , c a n be f ro m a bo u t 5 0 km to a bo u t 8 0 0 km, a nd,
a c c o rding l y ma y l ie in either the io no s p here o r the
ma g neto s p here o r bo th. A s ex p l a ined a bo v e, p l a s ma
wil l be p res ent a l o ng l ine 1 1 within reg io n R a nd is
rep res ented by the hel ic a l l ine 1 2 . Pl a s ma 1 2 is c o m
p ris ed o f c ha rg ed p a rtic l es ( i. e. , el ec tro ns a nd io ns )
whic h ro ta te a bo u t o p p o s ing hel ic a l p a ths a l o ng l ine 1 1 .
A ntenna 1 5 is p o s itio ned a s c l o s e a s is p ra c tic a l to the
l o c a tio n 1 4 where l ine 1 1 inters ec ts the ea rth s s u rf a c e.
A ntenna 1 5 ma y be o f a ny kno wn c o ns tru c tio n f o r hig h
direc tio na l ity , f o r ex a mp l e, a p ha s ed a rra y , bea m s p rea d
a ng l e ( 6 ) ty p e. S ee The MS T Ra da r a t Po ker Fl a t,
A l a s ka , Ra dio S c ienc e, V o l . 1 5 , No . 2 , Ma n- A p r. 1 9 8 0 ,
p p s . 2 1 3 - 2 2 3 , whic h is inc o rp o ra ted herein by ref er
enc e. A ntenna 1 5 is c o u p l ed to tra ns mitter 1 6 whic h
g enera tes a bea m o f hig h f req u enc y el ec tro ma g netic
ra dia tio n a t a wide ra ng e o f dis c rete f req u enc ies , e. g . ,
f ro m a bo u t 2 0 to a bo u t 1 8 0 0 kil o hertz ( kHz ) .
Tra ns mitter 1 6 is p o wered by p o wer g enera to r mea ns
1 7 whic h is p ref era bl y c o mp ris ed o f o ne o r mo re l a rg e,
c o mmerc ia l el ec tric a l g enera to rs . S o me embo diments
o f the p res ent inv entio n req u ire l a rg e a mo u nts o f
p o wer, e. g . , u p to l 0 9 to l 0 1 1 wa tts , in c o ntinu o u s wa v e
o r p u l s ed p o wer. Genera tio n o f the needed p o wer is
within the s ta te o f the a rt. A l tho u g h the el ec tric a l g en
era to rs nec es s a ry f o r the p ra c tic e o f the inv entio n c a n
be p o wered in a ny kno wn ma nner, f o r ex a mp l e, by
nu c l ea r rea c to rs , hy dro el ec tric f a c il ities , hy dro c a rbo n
f u el s , a nd the l ike, this inv entio n, bec a u s e o f its v ery
l a rg e p o wer req u irement in c erta in a p p l ic a tio ns , is p a r
tic u l a rl y a da p ted f o r u s e with c erta in ty p es o f f u el
s o u rc es whic h na tu ra l l y o c c u r a t s tra teg ic g eo g ra p hic a l
l o c a tio ns a ro u nd the ea rth. Fo r ex a mp l e, l a rg e res erv es
o f hy dro c a rbo ns ( o il a nd na tu ra l g a s ) ex is t in A l a s ka a nd
C a na da . In no rthern A l a s ka , p a rtic u l a rl y the No rth
S l o p e reg io n, l a rg e res erv es a re c u rrentl y rea dil y a v a il
a bl e. A l a s ka a nd no rthern C a na da a l s o a re idea l l y l o
c a ted g eo g ra p hic a l l y a s to ma g netic l a titu des . A l a s ka
p ro v ides ea s y a c c es s to ma g netic ? el d l ines tha t a re
es p ec ia l l y s u ited to the p ra c tic e o f this inv entio n, s inc e
ma ny ? el d l ines whic h ex tend to des ira bl e a l titu des f o r
this inv entio n inters ec t the ea rth in A l a s ka . Thu s , in
A l a s ka , there is a u niq u e c o mbina tio n o f l a rg e, a c c es s i
bl e f u el s o u rc es a t des ira bl e ? el d l ine inters ec tio ns . Fu r
ther, a p a rtic u l a rl y des ira bl e f u el s o u rc e f o r the g enera
tio n o f v ery l a rg e a mo u nts o f el ec tric ity is p res ent in
A l a s ka in a bu nda nc e, this s o u rc e being na tu ra l g a s . The
p res enc e o f v ery l a rg e a mo u nts o f c l ea n- bu rning na tu ra l
g a s in A l a s ka n l a titu des , p a rtic u l a rl y o n the No rth
S l o p e, a nd the a v a il a bil ity o f ma g neto hy dro dy na mic
( MHD ) , g a s tu rbine, f u el c el l , el ec tro g a s dy na mic
( E GD ) el ec tric g enera to rs whic h o p era te v ery ef ?
c ientl y with na tu ra l g a s p ro v ide a n idea l p o wer s o u rc e
f o r the u np rec edented p o wer req u irements o f c erta in o f
the a p p l ic a tio ns o f this inv entio n. Fo r a mo re deta il ed
dis c u s s io n o f the v a rio u s mea ns f o r g enera ting el ec tric
ity f ro m hy dro c a rbo n f u el s , s ee E l ec tric a l A s p ec ts o f
C o mbu s tio n, La wto n a nd Weinberg , C l a rendo n Pres s ,
1 9 6 9 . Fo r ex a mp l e, it is p o s s ibl e to g enera te the el ec tric
ity direc tl y a t the hig h f req u enc y needed to driv e the
a ntenna s y s tem. To do this , ty p ic a l l y the v el o c ity o f
? o w o f the c o mbu s tio n g a s es ( v ) , p a s t ma g netic ? el d
p ertu rba tio n o f dimens io n d ( in the c a s e o f MHD ) , f o l
l o w the ru l e:
where f is the f req u enc y a t whic h el ec tric ity is g ener
a ted. Thu s , if v = l . 7 8 > < l 0 6 c m/s ec a nd d= l c m then
8
el ec tric ity wo u l d be g enera ted a t a f req u enc y o f 1 . 7 8
mHz .
Pu t a no ther wa y , in A l a s ka , the rig ht ty p e o f f u el
( na tu ra l g a s ) is na tu ra l l y p res ent in l a rg e a mo u nts a nd a t
5 j u s t the rig ht ma g netic l a titu des f o r the mo s t ef f ic ient
O
3 0
6 5
p ra c tic e o f this inv entio n, a tru l y u niq u e c o mbina tio n o f
c irc u ms ta nc es . D es ira bl e ma g netic l a titu des f o r the
p ra c tic e o f this inv entio n interes t the ea rth s s u rf a c e
bo th no rtherl y a nd s o u therl y o f the eq u a to r, p a rtic u
l a rl y des ira bl e l a titu des being tho s e, bo th no rtherl y a nd
s o u therl y , whic h c o rres p o nd in ma g nitu de with the
ma g netic l a titu des tha t enc o mp a s s A l a s ka .
Ref erring no w to FIG. 2 a ? rs t a mbo diment is il l u s
tra ted where a s el ec ted reg io n Rl o f p l a s ma 1 2 is a l tered
by el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e hea ting to a c c el era te
the el ec tro ns o f p l a s ma 1 2 , whic h a re f o l l o wing hel ic a l
p a ths a l o ng ? el d l ine 1 1 .
To a c c o mp l is h this res u l t, el ec tro ma g netic ra dia tio n
is tra ns mitted a t the o u ts et, es s entia l l y p a ra l l el to l ine 1 1
v ia a ntenna 1 5 a s rig ht ha nd c irc u l a rl y p o l a riz ed ra dia
tio n wa v e 2 0 . Wa v e 2 0 ha s a f req u enc y whic h wil l
ex c ite el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e with p l a s ma 1 2 a t
its initia l o r o rig ina l a l titu de. This f req u enc y wil l v a ry
dep ending o n the el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e o f re
g io n Riwhic h, in tu rn, c a n be determined f ro m a v a il a bl e
da ta ba s ed o n the a l titu des o f reg io n R1 , the p a rtic u l a r
? el d l ine 1 1 being u s ed, the s treng th o f the ea rth s ma g
netic ? el d, etc . Freq u enc ies o f f ro m a bo u t 2 0 to a bo u t
7 2 0 0 kHz , p ref era bl y f ro m a bo u t 2 0 to a bo u t 1 8 0 0 kHz
c a n be emp l o y ed. A l s o , f o r a ny g iv en a p p l ic a tio n, there
wil l be a thres hho l d ( minimu m p o wer l ev el ) whic h is
needed to p ro du c e the des ired res u l t. The minimu m
p o wer l ev el is a f u nc tio n o f the l ev el o f p l a s ma p ro du c
tio n a nd mo v ement req u ired, ta king into c o ns idera tio n
a ny l o s s p ro c es s es tha t ma y be do mina nt in a p a rtic u l a r
p l a s ma o r p ro p a g a tio n p a th.
A s el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e is es ta bl is hed in
p l a s ma 1 2 , energ y is tra ns f erred f ro m the el ec tro ma g
netic ra dia tio n 2 0 into p l a s ma 1 2 to hea t a nd a c c el era te
the el ec tro ns therein a nd, s u bs eq u entl y , io ns a nd neu tra l
p a rtic l es . A s this p ro c es s c o ntinu es , neu tra l p a rtic l es
whic h a re p res ent within Rl a re io niz ed a nd a bs o rbed
into p l a s ma 1 2 a nd this inc rea s es the el ec tro n a nd io n
dens ities o f p l a s ma 1 2 . A s the el ec tro n energ y is ra is ed
to v a l u es o f a bo u t 1 kil o el ec tro n v o l t ( kev ) , the g ener
a ted mirro r f o rc e ( ex p l a ined bel o w) wil l direc t. the ex
c ited p l a s ma 1 2 u p wa rd a l o ng l ine 1 1 to f o rm a p l u me
R2 2 1 a n a l titu de hig her tha n tha t o f R1 .
Pl a s ma a c c el era tio n res u l ts f ro m the f o rc e o n a n el ec
tro n p ro du c ed by a no nu nif o rm s ta tic ma g netic ? el d
( P) . The f o rc e, c a l l ed the mirro r f o rc e, is g iv en by
F= _, . v B ( 2 )
where p t is the el ec tro n ma g netic mo ment a nd V P is the
g ra dient o f the ma g netic ? el d, p . being f u rther de? ned
a s :
where W iis the kinetic energ y in the direc tio n p erp en
dic u l a r to tha t o f the ma g netic ? el d l ines a nd B is the
ma g netic ? el d s treng th a t the l ine o f f o rc e o n whic h the
g u iding c enter o f the p a rtic l e is l o c a ted. The f o rc e a s
rep res ented by eq u a tio n ( 2 ) is the f o rc e whic h is res p o n
s ibl e f o r a p a rtic l e o bey ing eq u a tio n ( 1 ) .
4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
S inc e the ma g netic ? el d is div erg ent in reg io n R1 , it
c a n be s ho wn tha t the p l a s ma wil l mo v e u p wa rdl y f ro m
the hea ting reg io n a s s ho wn in FIG. 1 a nd f u rther it c a n
be s ho wn tha t
Wa t/. 1 1 6 ) : tMc ml m+ - J _> M| ' V i H 1 m ( 3 )
where the l ef t ha nd s ide is the initia l el ec tro n tra ns v ers e
kinetic energ y ; the ? rs t term o n the rig ht is the tra ns
v ers e el ec tro n kinetic energ y a t s o me p o int ( Y) in the
ex p a nded ? el d reg io n, whil e the ? na l term is the io n
kinetic energ y p a ra l l el to B a t p o int v ( Y) . This l a s t term
is wha t c o ns titu tes the des ired io n f l o w. It is p ro du c ed
by a n el ec tro s ta tic ? el d s et u p by el ec tro ns whic h a re
a c c el era ted a c c o rding to E q u a tio n ( 2 ) in the div erg ent
? el d reg io n a nd p u l l s io ns a l o ng with them. E q u a tio n
( 3 ) ig no res el ec tro n kinetic energ y p a ra l l el to B bec a u s e
V , H :V ; H , s o the bu l k o f p a ra l l el kinetic energ y res ides
in the io ns bec a u s e o f their g rea ter ma s s es . Fo r ex a mp l e,
if a n el ec tro ma g netic energ y ? u x o f f ro m a bo u t 1 to
a bo u t 1 0 wa tts p er s q u a re c entimeter is a p p l ied to re
g io n R, who s e a l titu de is 1 1 5 km, a p l a s ma ha v ing a
dens ity ( Ne) o f 1 0 1 2 p er c u bic c entimeter wil l be g ener
a ted a nd mo v ed u p wa rd to reg io n R; whic h ha s a n
a l titu de o f a bo u t 1 0 0 0 km. The mo v ement o f el ec tro ns
in the p l a s ma is du e to the mirro r f o rc e whil e the io ns
a re mo v ed by a mbip o l a r dif f u s io n ( whic h res u l ts f ro m
the el ec tro s ta tic ? el d) . This ef f ec tiv el y l if ts a l a y er o f
p l a s ma 1 2 f ro m the io no s p here a nd/o r ma g neto s p here
to a hig her el ev a tio n R2 . The to ta l energ y req u ired to
c rea te a p l a s ma with a ba s e a rea o f 3 s q u a re kil o meters
a nd a heig ht o f 1 0 0 0 km is a bo u t 3 X 1 0 1 3 j o u l es .
FIG. 3 is a n idea l iz ed rep res enta tio n o f mo v ement o f
p l a s ma 1 2 u p o n ex c ita tio n by el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o
na nc e within the ea rth s div erg ent f o rc e ? el d. E l ec tro ns
( e) a re a c c el era ted to v el o c ities req u ired to g enera te the
nec es s a ry mirro r f o rc e to c a u s e their u p wa rd mo v e
ment. A t the s a me time neu tra l p a rtic l es ( n) whic h a re
p res ent a l o ng l ine 1 1 in reg io n Rl a re io niz ed a nd be
c o me p a rt o f p l a s ma 1 2 . A s el ec tro ns ( e) mo v e u p wa rd
a l o ng l ine 1 1 , they dra g io ns ( i) a nd neu tra l s ( n) with
them bu t a t a n a ng l e 0 o f a bo u t 1 3 deg rees to ? el d l ine
1 1 . A l s o , a ny p a rtic u l a tes tha t ma y be p res ent in reg io n
R1 , wil l be s wep t u p wa rdl y with the p l a s ma . A s the
c ha rg ed p a rtic l es o f p l a s ma 1 2 mo v e u p wa rd, o ther
p a rtic l es s u c h a s neu tra l s within o r bel o w R1 , mo v e in
to rep l a c e the u p wa rdl y mo v ing p a rtic l es . Thes e neu
tra l s , u nder s o me c o nditio ns , c a n dra g with them
c ha rg ed p a rtic l es .
Fo r ex a mp l e, a s a p l a s ma mo v es u p wa rd, o ther p a rti
c l es a t the s a me a l titu de a s the p l a s ma mo v e ho riz o n
ta l l y into the reg io n to rep l a c e the ris ing p l a s ma a nd to
f o rm new p l a s ma . The kinetic energ y dev el o p ed by s a id
o ther p a rtic l es a s they mo v e ho riz o nta l l y is , f o r ex a m
p l e, o n the s a me o rder o f ma g nitu de a s the to ta l z o na l
kinetic energ y o f s tra to s p heric winds kno wn to ex is t.
Ref erring a g a in to FIG. 2 , p l a s ma 1 2 in reg io n R1 is
mo v ed u p wa rd a l o ng ? el d l ine 1 1 . The p l a s ma 1 2 wil l
then f o rm a p l u me ( c ro s s - ha tc hed a rea in FIG. 2 ) whic h
wil l be rel a tiv el y s ta bl e f o r p ro l o ng ed p erio ds o f time.
The ex a c t p erio d o f time wil l v a ry widel y a nd be deter
mined by g ra v ita tio na l f o rc es a nd a c o mbina tio n o f
ra dia tiv e a nd dif f u s iv e l o s s terms . In the p rev io u s de
ta il ed ex a mp l e, the c a l c u l a tio ns were ba s ed o n f o rming
a p l u me by p ro du c ing 0 +energ ies o f 2 ev /p a rtic l e.
A bo u t 1 0 ev p er p a rtic l e wo u l d be req u ired to ex p a nd
p l a s ma 1 2 to a p ex p o int C ( FIG. 1 ) . There a t l ea s t s o me
o f the p a rtic l es o f p l a s ma 1 2 wil l be tra p p ed a nd wil l
o s c il l a te between mirro r p o ints a l o ng ? el d l ine 1 1 . This
5 5
6 5
1 0
o s c il l a tio n wil l then a l l o w a dditio na l hea ting o f the
tra p p ed p l a s ma 1 2 by s to c ha s tic hea ting whic h is a s s o c i
a ted with tra p p ed a nd o s c il l a ting p a rtic l es . S ee A New
Mec ha nis m f o r A c c el era ting E l ec tro ns in the Ou ter
Io no s p here" by R. A . Hel l iwel l a nd T. F. B el l , J o u rna l
o f Geo p hy s ic a l Res ea rc h, V o l . 6 5 , No . 6 , J u ne, 1 9 6 0 .
This is p ref era bl y c a rried o u t a t a n a l titu de o f a t l ea s t
5 0 0 km.
The p l a s ma o f the ty p ic a l ex a mp l e mig ht be em
p l o y ed to mo dif y o r dis ru p t mic ro wa v e tra ns mis s io ns o f
s a tel l ites . If l es s tha n to ta l bl a c k- o u t o f tra ns mis s io n is
des ired ( e. g . , s c ra mbl ing by p ha s e s hif ting dig ita l s ig
na l s ) , the dens ity o f the p l a s ma ( Ne) need o nl y be a t l ea s t
a bo u t 1 0 6 p er c u bic c entimeter f o r a p l a s ma o rg ina ting
a t a n a l titu de o f f ro m a bo u t 2 5 0 to a bo u t 4 0 0 km a nd
a c c o rding l y l es s energ y ( i. e. , el ec tro ma g netic ra dia
tio n) , e. g . , l 0 8 j o u l es need be p ro v ided. Likewis e, if the
dens ity Neis o n the o rder o f 1 0 8 , a p ro p erl y p o s itio ned
p l u me wil l p ro v ide a ref l ec ting s u rf a c e f o r V HF wa v es
a nd c a n be u s ed to enha nc e, interf ere with, o r o therwis e
mo dif y c o mmu nic a tio n tra ns mis s io ns . It c a n be s een
f ro m the f o reg o ing tha t by a p p ro p ria te a p p l ic a tio n o f '
v a rio u s a s p ec ts o f this inv entio n a t s tra teg ic l o c a tio ns
a nd with a deq u a te p o wer s o u rc es , a mea ns a nd metho d
is p ro v ided to c a u s e interf erenc e with o r ev en to ta l
dis ru p tio n o f c o mmu nic a tio ns o v er a v ery l a rg e p o rtio n
o f the ea rth. This inv entio n c o u l d be emp l o y ed to dis
ru p t no t o nl y l a nd ba s ed c o mmu nic a tio ns , bo th c iv il ia n
a nd mil ita ry , bu t a l s o a irbo rne c o mmu nic a tio ns a nd s ea
c o mmu nic a tio ns ( bo th s u rf a c e a nd s u bs u rf a c e) . This
wo u l d ha v e s ig ni? c a nt mil ita ry imp l ic a tio ns , p a rtic u
l a rl y a s a ba rrier to o r c o nf u s ing f a c to r f o r ho s til e mis
s il es o r a irp l a nes . The bel t o r bel ts o f enha nc ed io niz a
tio n p ro du c ed by the metho d a nd a p p a ra tu s o f this
inv entio n, p a rtic u l a rl y if s et u p o v er No rthern A l a s ka
a nd C a na da , c o u l d be emp l o y ed a s a n ea rl y wa rning
dev ic e, a s wel l a s a c o mmu nic a tio ns dis ru p tio n mediu m.
Fu rther, the s imp l e a bil ity to p ro du c e s u c h a s itu a tio n in
a p ra c tic a l time p erio d c a n by its el f be a deterring f o rc e
to ho s til e a c tio n. The idea l c o mbina tio n o f s u ita bl e ? el d
l ines inters ec ting the ea rth s s u rf a c e a t the p o int where
s u bs ta ntia l f u el s o u rc es a re a v a il a bl e f o r g enera tio n o f
v ery l a rg e q u a ntitities o f el ec tro ma g netic p o wer, s u c h
a s the No rth S l o p e o f A l a s ka , p ro v ides the wherewitha l
to a c c o mp l is h the f o reg o ing in a p ra c tic a l time p erio d,
e. g . , s tra teg ic req u irements c o u l d nec es s ita te a c hiev ing
the des ired a l tered reg io ns in time p erio ds o f two min
u tes o r l es s a nd this is a c hiev a bl e with this inv entio n,
es p ec ia l l y when the c o mbina tio n o f na tu ra l g a s a nd
ma g neto hy dro dy na mic , g a s tu rbine, f u el c el l a nd/ o r
E GD el ec tric g enera to rs a re emp l o y ed a t the p o int
where the u s ef u l ? el d l ines inters ec t the ea rth s s u rf a c e.
One f ea tu re o f this inv entio n whic h s a tis ? es a ba s ic
req u irement o f a wea p o n s y s tem, i. e. , c o ntinu o u s c hec k
ing o f o p era bil ity , is tha t s ma l l a mo u nts o f p o wer c a n be
g enera ted f o r o p era bil ity c hec king p u rp o s es . Fu rther, in
the ex p l o ita tio n o f this inv entio n, s inc e the ma in el ec tro
ma g netic bea m whic h g enera tes the enha nc ed io niz ed
bel t o f this inv entio n c a n be mo du l a ted its el f a nd/ o r o ne
o r mo re a dditio na l el ec tro ma g netic ra dia tio n wa v es c a n
be imp ing ed o n the io niz ed reg io n f o rmed by this inv en
tio n a s wil l be des c ribed in g rea ter deta il herein a f ter
with res p ec t to FIG. 4 , a s u bs ta ntia l a mo u nt o f ra n
do ml y mo du l a ted s ig na l s o f v ery l a rg e p o wer ma g ni
tu de c a n be g enera ted in a hig hl y no nl inea r mo de. This
c a n c a u s e c o nf u s io n o f o r interf erenc e with o r ev en
c o mp l ete dis ru p tio n o f g u ida nc e s y s tems emp l o y ed by
4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
1 1
ev en the mo s t s o p his tic a ted o f a irp l a nes a nd mis s il es .
The a bil ity to emp l o y a nd tra ns mit o v er v ery wide a rea s
o f the ea rth a p l u ra l ity o f el ec tro ma g netic wa v es o f \
v a ry ing f req u enc ies a nd to c ha ng e s a me a t wil l in a
ra ndo m ma nner, p ro v ides a u niq u e a bil ity to interf ere
with a l l mo des o f c o mmu nic a tio ns , l a nd, s ea , a nd/o r a ir,
a t the s a me time. B ec a u s e o f the u niq u e j u x ta p o s itio n o f
u s a bl e f u el s o u rc e a t the p o int where des ira bl e ? el d l ines
inters ec t the ea rth s s u rf a c e, s u c h wide ra ng ing a nd
c o mp l ete c o mmu nic a tio n interf erenc e c a n be a c hiev ed
in a res o na bl y s ho rt p erio d o f time. B ec a u s e o f the mir
ro ring p heno meno n dis c u s s ed hereina bo v e, it c a n a l s o
be p ro l o ng ed f o r s u bs ta ntia l time p erio ds s o tha t it
wo u l d- no t be a mere tra ns ient ef f ec t tha t c o u l d s imp l y
be wa ited o u t by a n o p p o s ing f o rc e. Thu s , this inv entio n
p ro v ides the a bil ity to p u t u np rec edented a mo u nts o f
p o wer in the ea rth s a tmo s p here a t s tra teg ic l o c a tio ns
a nd to ma inta in the p o wer inj ec tio n l ev el , p a rtic u l a rl y if
ra ndo m p u l s ing is emp l o y ed, in a ma nner f a r mo re p re
c is e a nd better c o ntro l l ed tha n hereto f o re a c c o mp l is hed
by the p rio r a rt, p a rtic u l a rl y by the deto na tio n o f nu
c l ea r dev ic es o f v a rio u s y eil ds a t v a rio u s a l titu des .
Where the p rio r a rt a p p ro a c hes y iel ded merel y tra ns i
to ry ef f ec ts , the u niq u e c o mbina tio n o f f u el a nd des ir
a bl e ? el d l ines a t the p o int where the f u el o c c u rs a l l o ws
the es ta bl is hment o f , c o mp a red to ' p rio r a rt a p p ro a c hes ,
p rec is el y c o ntro l l ed a nd l o ng - l a s ting ef f ec ts whic h c a n
no t, p ra c tic a l l y s p ea king , s imp l y be wa ited o u t. Fu rther,
by kno wing the f req u enc ies o f the v a rio u s el ec tro ma g
netic bea ms emp l o y ed in the p ra c tic e o f this inv entio n,
it is p o s s ibl e no t o nl y to interf ere with third p a rty c o m
mu nic a tio ns bu t to ta ke a dv a nta g e o f o ne o r mo re s u c h
bea ms to c a rry o u t a c o mmu nic a tio ns netwo rk ev en
tho u g h the res t o f the wo rl d s c o mmu nic a tio ns a re dis
ru p ted. Pu t a no ther wa y , wha t is u s ed to dis ru p t a no th
er s c o mmu nic a tio ns c a n be emp l o y ed by o ne kno wl
edg ea bl e o f this inv entio n a s a c o mmu nic a tio ns netwo rk
a t the s a me time. In a dditio n, o nc e o ne s o wn c o mmu ni
c a tio n netwo rk is es ta bl is hed, the f a r- rea c hing ex tent o f
the ef f ec ts o f this inv entio n c o u l d be emp l o y ed to p ic k
u p c o mmu nic a tio n s ig na l s o f o ther f o r intel l ig enc e p u r
p o s es . Thu s , it c a n be s een tha t the dis ru p ting ef f ec ts
a c hiev a bl e by this inv entio n c a n be emp l o y ed to bene? t
by the p a rty who is p ra c tic ing this inv entio n s inc e
kno wl edg e o f the v a rio u s el ec tro ma g netic wa v es being
emp l o y ed a nd ho w they wil l v a ry in f req u enc y a nd
ma g nitu de c a n be u s ed to a n a dv a nta g e f o r p o s itiv e
c o mmu nic a tio n a nd ea v es dro p p ing p u rp o s es a t the
s a me time. Ho wev er, this inv entio n is no t l imited to
l o c a tio ns where the f u el s o u rc e na tu ra l l y ex is ts o r
where des ira bl e ? el d l ines na tu ra l l y inters ec t the ea rth s
s u rf a c e. Fo r ex a mp l e, f u el , p a rtic u l a rl y hy dro c a rbo n
f u el , c a n be tra ns p o rted by p ip el ine a nd the l ike to the
l o c a tio n where the inv entio n is to be p ra c tic ed.
FIG. 4 il l u s tra tes a no ther embo diment wherein a
s el ec ted reg io n o f p l a s ma R3 whic h l ies within the
ea rth s io no s p here is a l tered to inc rea s e the dens ity
thereo f whereby a rel a tiv el y s ta bl e l a y er 3 0 o f rel a tiv el y
dens e p l a s ma is ma inta ined within reg io n R3 . E l ec tro
ma g netic ra dia tio n is tra ns mitted a t the o u ts et es s en
tia l l y p a ra l l el to ? el d l ine 1 1 v ia a ntenna 1 5 a s a rig ht
ha nd c irc u l a rl y p o l a riz ed wa v e a nd a t a f req u enc y ( e. g . ,
1 . 7 8 meg a hertz when the ma g netic ? el d a t the des ired
a l titu de is 0 . 6 6 g a u s s ) c a p a bl e o f ex c iting el ec tro n c y c l o
tro n res o na nc e in p l a s ma 1 2 a t the p a rtic u l a r a l titu de o f
p l a s ma 1 2 . This c a u s es hea ting o f the p a rtic l es ( el ec
tro ns , io ns , neu tra l s , a nd p a rtic u l a tes ) a nd io niz a tio n o f
the u nc ha rg ed p a rtic l es a dj a c ent l ine 1 1 , a l l o f whic h
O
5
2 5
4 5
6 5
1 2
a re a bs o rbed into p l a s ma 1 2 to inc rea s e the dens ity
thereo f . The p o wer tra ns mitted, e. g . , 2 X1 0 6 wa tts f o r
u p to 2 minu tes hea ting time, is l es s tha n tha t req u ired to
g enera te the mirro r f o rc e F req u ired to mo v e p l a s ma 1 2
u p wa rd a s in the p rev io u s embo diment.
Whil e c o ntinu ing to tra ns mit el ec tro ma g netic ra dia
tio n 2 0 f ro m a ntenna 1 5 , a s ec o nd el ec tro ma g netic ra di
a tio n bea m 3 1 , whic h is a t a de? ned f req u enc y dif f erent
f ro m the ra dia tio n f ro m a ntenna 1 5 , is tra ns mitted f ro m
o ne o r mo re s ec o nd s o u rc es v ia a ntenna 3 2 into l a y er 3 0
a nd is a bs o rbed into a p o rtio n o f l a y er 3 0 ( c ro s s - ha tc hed
a rea in FIG. 4 ) . The el ec tro ma g netic ra dia tio n wa v e
f ro m a ntenna 3 2 is a mp l itu de mo du l a ted to ma tc h a
kno wn mo de o f o s c il l a tio n f 3 in l a y er 3 0 . This c rea tes a
res o na nc e in l a y er 3 0 whic h ex c ites a new p l a s ma wa v e
3 3 whic h a l s o ha s a f req u enc y o f f 3 a nd whic h then
p ro p o g a tes thro u g h the io no s p here. Wa v e 3 3 c a n be
u s ed to imp ro v e o r dis ru p t c o mmu nic a tio ns o r bo th
dep ending o n wha t is des ired in a p a rtic u l a r a p p l ic a tio n.
Of c o u rs e, mo re tha n o ne new wa v e 3 3 c a n be g ener
a ted a nd the v a rio u s new wa v es c a n be mo du l a ted a t
wil l a nd in a hig hl y no nl inea r f a s hio n.
FIG. 5 s ho ws a p p a ra tu s u s ef u l in this inv entio n, p a r
tic u l a rl y when tho s e a p p l ic a tio ns o f this inv entio n a re
emp l o y ed whic h req u ire ex tremel y l a rg e a mo u nts o f
p o wer. In FIG. 5 there is s ho wn the ea rth s s u rf a c e 4 0
with a wel l 4 1 ex tending do wnwa rdl y thereinto u ntil it
p enetra tes hy dro c a rbo n p ro du c ing res erv o ir 4 2 . Hy dro
c a rbo n res erv o ir 4 2 p ro du c es na tu ra l g a s a l o ne o r in
c o mbina tio n with c ru de o il . Hy dro c a rbo ns a re p ro
du c ed f ro m res erv o ir 4 2 thro u g h wel l 4 1 a nd wel l hea d
4 3 to a trea ting s y s tem 4 4 by wa y o f p ip e 4 5 . In trea ter
4 4 , des ira bl e l iq u ids s u c h a s c ru de o il a nd g a s c o nden
s a tes a re s ep a ra ted a nd rec o v ered by wa y o f p ip e 4 6
whil e u ndes ira bl e g a s es a nd l iq u ids s u c h a s wa ter, H2 8 ,
a nd the l ike a re s ep a ra ted by wa y o f p ip e 4 7 . D es ira bl e
g a s es s u c h a s c a rbo n dio x ide a re s ep a ra ted by wa y o f
p ip e 4 8 , a nd the rema ining na tu ra l g a s s trea m is re
mo v ed f ro m trea ter 4 4 by wa y o f p ip e 4 9 f o r s to ra g e in
c o nv entio na l ta nka g e mea ns ( no t s ho wn) f o r f u tu re u s e
a nd/o r u s e in a n el ec tric a l g enera to r s u c h a s a ma g neto
hy dro dy na mic , g a s tu rbine, f u el c el l o r E GD g enera to r
5 0 . A ny des ired nu mber a nd c o mbina tio n o f dif f erent
ty p es o f el ec tric g enera to rs c a n be emp l o y ed in the
p ra c tic e o f this inv entio n. The na tu ra l g a s is bu rned in
g enera to r 5 0 to p ro du c e s u bs ta ntia l q u a ntities o f el ec
tric ity whic h is then s to red a nd/o r p a s s ed by wa y o f
wire 5 1 to a tra ns mitter 5 2 whic h g enera tes the el ec tro
ma g netic ra dia tio n to be u s ed in the metho d o f this
inv entio n. The el ec tro ma g netic ra dia tio n is then p a s s ed
by wa y o f wire 5 3 to a ntenna 5 4 whic h is l o c a ted a t o r
nea r the end o f ? el d l ine 1 1 . A ntenna 5 4 s ends c irc u l a rl y
p o l a riz ed ra dia tio n wa v e 2 0 u p wa rds a l o ng ? el d l ine 1 1
to c a rry o u t the v a rio u s metho ds o f this inv entio n a s
des c ribed hereina bo v e.
Of c o u rs e, the f u el s o u rc e need no t be u s ed in its
na tu ra l l y - o c c u rring s ta te bu t c o u l d ? rs t be c o nv erted to
a no ther s ec o nd energ y s o u rc e f o rm s u c h a s hy dro g en,
hy dra z ine a nd the l ike, a nd el ec tric ity then g enera ted
f ro m s a id s ec o nd energ y s o u rc e f o rm.
It c a n be s een f ro m the f o reg o ing tha t when des ira bl e
? el d l ine 1 1 inters ec ts ea rth s s u rf a c e 4 0 a t o r nea r a
l a rg e na tu ra l l y - o c c u rring hy dro c a rbo n s o u rc e 4 2 , ex
c eeding l y l a rg e a mo u nts o f p o wer c a n be v ery ef ?
c ientl y p ro du c ed a nd tra ns mitted in the direc tio n o f
? el d l ines . This is p a rtic u l a rl y s o when the f u el s o u rc e is
na tu ra l g a s a nd ma g neto hy dro dy na mic g enera to rs a re
emp l o y ed. Fu rther, this c a n a l l be a c c o mp l is hed in a
4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
1 3
rel a tiv el y s ma l l p hy s ic a l a rea when there is the u niq u e
c o inc idenc e o f f u el s o u rc e 4 2 a nd des ira bl e ? el d l ine 1 1 .
Of c o u rs e, o nl y o ne s et o f eq u ip ment is s ho wn in FIG.
5 f o r s a ke o f s imp l ic ity . Fo r a l a rg e hy dro c a rbo n res er
v o ir 4 2 , a p l u ra l ity o f wel l s 4 1 c a n be emp l o y ed to f eed
o ne o r mo re s to ra g e mea ns a nd/ o r trea ters a nd a s l a rg e
a nu mber o f g enera to rs 5 5 a s needed to p o wer o ne o r
mo re tra ns mitters 5 2 a nd o ne o r mo re a ntenna s 5 4 .
S inc e a l l o f the a p p a ra tu s 4 4 thro u g h 5 4 c a n be em
p l o y ed a nd u s ed es s entia l l y a t the s ig ht where na tu ra l l y
o c c u rring f u el s o u rc e 4 2 is l o c a ted, a l l the nec es s a ry
el ec tro ma g netic ra dia tio n 2 0 is g enera ted es s entia l l y a t
the s a me l o c a tio n a s f u el s o u rc e 4 2 . This p ro v ides f o r a
ma x imu m a mo u nt o f u s a bl e el ec tro ma g netic ra dia tio n
2 0 s inc e there a re no s ig ni? c a nt s to ra g e o r tra ns p o rta
tio n l o s s es to be inc u rred. In o ther wo rds , the a p p a ra tu s
is bro u g ht to the s ig ht o f the f u el s o u rc e where des ira bl e
? el d l ine 1 1 inters ec ts the ea rth s s u rf a c e 4 0 o n o r nea r
the g eo g ra p hic a l l o c a tio n o f f u el s o u rc e 4 2 , f u el s o u rc e
4 2 being a t a des ira bl e ma g netic l a titu de f o r the p ra c tic e
o f this inv entio n, f o r ex a mp l e, A l a s ka .
The g enera tio n o f el ec tric ity by mo tio n o f a c o ndu c t
ing ? u id thro u g h a ma g netic ? el d, i. e. , ma g neto hy dro
dy na mic s ( MHD ) , p ro v ides a metho d o f el ec tric p o wer
g enera tio n witho u t mo v ing mec ha nic a l p a rts a nd when
the c o ndu c ting ? u id is a p l a s ma f o rmed by c o mbu s tio n
o f a f u el s u c h a s na tu ra l g a s , a n idea l iz ed c o mbina tio n o f
a p p a ra tu s is rea l iz ed s inc e the v ery c l ea n- bu rning na tu
ra l g a s f o rms the c o ndu c ting p l a s ma in a n ef ? c ient ma n
ner a nd the thu s f o rmed p l a s ma , when p a s s ed thro u g h a
ma g netic ? el d, g enera tes el ec tric ity in a v ery ef ? c ient
ma nner. Thu s , the u s e o f f u el s o u rc e 4 2 to g enera te a
p l a s ma by c o mbu s tio n thereo f f o r the g enera tio n o f
el ec tric ity es s entia l l y a t the s ite o f o c c u rrenc e o f the
f u el s o u rc e is u niq u e a nd idea l when hig h p o wer l ev el s
a re req u ired a nd des ira bl e ? el d l ines 1 1 inters ec t the
ea rth s s u rf a c e 4 0 a t o r nea r the s ite o f f u el s o u rc e 4 2 . A
p a rtic u l a r a dv a nta g e f o r MHD g enera to rs is tha t they
c a n be ma de to g enera te l a rg e a mo u nts o f p o wer with a
s ma l l v o l u me, l ig ht weig ht dev ic e. Fo r ex a mp l e, a 1 0 0 0
meg a wa tt MHD g enera to r c a n be c o ns tru ed u s ing s u
p erc o ndu c ting ma g nets to weig h ro u g hl y 4 2 , 0 0 0
p o u nds a nd c a n be rea dil y a ir l if ted.
This inv entio n ha s a p heno mena l v a riety o f p o s s ibl e
ra mi? c a tio ns a nd p o tentia l f u tu re dev el o p ments . A s
a l l u ded to ea rl ier, mis s il e o r a irc ra f t des tru c tio n, def l ec
tio n, o r c o nf u s io n c o u l d res u l t, p a rtic u l a rl y when rel a
tiv is tic p a rtic l es a re emp l o y ed. A l s o , l a rg e reg io ns o f
the a tmo s p here c o u l d be l if ted to a n u nex p ec tedl y hig h
a l titu de s o tha t mis s il es enc o u nter u nex p ec ted a nd u n
p l a nned dra g f o rc es with res u l ta nt des tru c tio n o r de
? ec tio n o f s a me. Wea ther mo di? c a tio n is p o s s ibl e by ,
f o r ex a mp l e, a l tering u p p er a tmo s p here wind p a tterns
o r a l tering s o l a r a bs o rp tio n p a tterns by c o ns tru c ting
o ne o r mo re p l u mes o f a tmo s p heric p a rtic l es whic h wil l
a c t a s a l ens o r f o c u s ing dev ic e. A l s o a s a l l u ded to ea r
l ier, mo l ec u l a r mo di? c a tio ns o f the a tmo s p here c a n ta ke
p l a c e s o tha t p o s itiv e env iro nmenta l ef f ec ts c a n be
a c hiev ed. B es ides a c tu a l l y c ha ng ing the mo l ec u l a r c o m
p o s itio n o f a n a tmo s p heric reg io n, a p a rtic u l a r mo l ec u l e
o r mo l ec u l es c a n be c ho s en f o r inc rea s ed p res enc e. Fo r
ex a mp l e, o z o ne, nitro g en, etc . c o nc entra tio ns in the
a tmo s p here c o u l d be a rti? c ia l l y inc rea s ed. S imil a rl y ,
env iro nmenta l enha nc ement c o u l d be a c hiev ed by c a u s
ing the brea ku p o f v a rio u s c hemic a l entities s u c h a s
c a rbo n dio x ide, c a rbo n mo no x ide, nitro u s o x ides , a nd
the l ike. Tra ns p o rta tio n o f entities c a n a l s o be rea l iz ed
when a dv a nta g e is ta ken o f the dra g ef f ec ts c a u s ed by
2 0
2 5
3 5
4 0
4 5
6 0
6 5
1 4
reg io ns o f the a tmo s p here mo v ing u p a l o ng div erg ing
? el d l ines . S ma l l mic ro n s iz ed p a rtic l es c a n be then
tra ns p o rted, a nd, u nder c erta in c irc u ms ta nc es a nd with
the a v a il a bil ity o f s u f ? c ient energ y , l a rg er p a rtic l es o r
o bj ec ts c o u l d be s imil a rl y a f f ec ted. Pa rtic l es with de
s ired c ha ra c teris tic s s u c h a s ta c kines s , re? ec tiv ity , a b
s o rp tiv ity , etc . , c a n be tra ns p o rted f o r s p ec i? c p u rp o s es
o r ef f ec ts . Fo r ex a mp l e, a p l u me o f ta c ky p a rtic l es c o u l d
be es ta bl is hed to inc rea s e the dra g o n a mis s il e o r s a tel
l ite p a s s ing therethro u g h. E v en p l u mes o f p l a s ma ha v
ing s u bs ta ntia l l y l es s c ha rg ed p a rtic l e dens ity tha nde
s c ribed a bo v e wil l p ro du c e dra g ef f ec ts o n mis s il es
whic h wil l a f f ec t a l ig htweig ht ( du mmy ) mis s il e in a
ma nner s u bs ta ntia l l y dif f erent tha n a hea v y ( l iv e) mis
s il e a nd this a f f ec t c a n be u s ed to dis ting u is h between
the two ty p es o f mis s il es . A mo v ing p l u me c o u l d a l s o
s erv e a s a mea ns f o r s u p p l y ing a s p a c e s ta tio n o r f o r
f o c u s ing v a s t a mo u nt o f s u nl ig ht o n s el ec ted p o rtio ns o f
the ea rth. S u rv ey s o f g l o ba l s c o p e c o u l d a l s o be rea l iz ed
bec a u s e the ea rth s na tu ra l ma g netic ? el d c o u l d be s ig
ni? c a ntl y a l tered in a c o ntro l l ed ma nner by p l a s ma beta
ef f ec ts res u l ting in, f o r ex a mp l e, imp ro v ed ma g neto tel ~
l u ric s u rv ey s . E l ec tro ma g netic p u l s e def ens es a re a l s o
p o s s ibl e. The ea rth s ma g netic ? el d c o u l d be dec rea s ed
o r dis ru p ted a t a p p ro p ria te a l titu des to mo dif y o r el imi
na te the ma g netic ? el d in hig h C o mp to n el ec tro n g ener
a tio n ( e. g . , f ro m hig h a l titu de nu c l ea r bu rs ts ) reg io ns .
Hig h intens ity , wel l c o ntro l l ed el ec tric a l ? el ds c a n be
p ro v ided in s el ec ted l o c a tio ns f o r v a rio u s p u rp o s es . Fo r
ex a mp l e, the p l a s ma s hea th s u rro u nding a mis s il e o r
s a tel l ite c o u l d be u s ed a s a trig g er f o r a c tiv a ting s u c h a
hig h intens ity ? el d to des tro y the mis s il e o r s a tel l ite.
Fu rther, irreg u l a rities c a n be c rea ted in the io no s p here
whic h wil l interf ere with the no rma l o p era tio n o f v a ri
o u s ty p es o f ra da r, e. g . , s y nthetic a p ertu re ra da r. The
p res ent inv entio n c a n a l s o be u s ed to c rea te a rti? c ia l
bel ts o f tra p p ed p a rtic l es whic h in tu rn c a n be s tu died to
determine the s ta bil ity o f s u c h p a rties . S til l f u rther,
p l u mes in a c c o rda nc e with the p res ent inv entio n c a n be
f o rmed to s imu l a te a nd/ o r p erf o rm the s a me f u nc tio ns
a s p erf o rmed by the deto na tio n o f a hea v e ty p e nu
c l ea r dev ic e witho u t a c tu a l l y ha v ing to deto na te s u c h a
dev ic e. Thu s it c a n be s een tha t the ra mi? c a tio ns a re
nu mero u s , f a r- rea c hing , a nd ex c eeding l y v a ried in u s e
f u l nes s .
I c l a im:
1 . A metho d f o r a l tering a t l ea s t o ne reg io n no rma l l y
ex is ting a bo v e the ea rth s s u rf a c e with el ec tro ma g netic
ra dia tio n u s ing na tu ra l l y - o c c u rring a nd div erg ing ma g
netic ? el d l ines o f the ea rth c o mp ris ing tra ns mitting ? rs t
el ec tro ma g netic ra dia tio n a t a f req u enc y between 2 0
a nd 7 2 0 0 kHz f ro m the ea rth s s u rf a c e, s a id tra ns mitting
being c o ndu c ted es s entia l l y a t the o u ts et o f tra ns mis s io n
s u bs ta ntia l l y p a ra l l el to a nd a l o ng a t l ea s t o ne o f s a id
? el d l ines , a dj u s ting the f req u enc y o f s a id ? rs t ra dia tio n
to a v a l u e whic h wil l ex c ite el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o
na nc e a t a n initia l el ev a tio n a t l ea s t 5 0 km a bo v e the
ea rth s s u rf a c e, whereby in the reg io n in whic h s a id
el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e ta kes p l a c e hea ting , f u r
ther io niz a tio n, a nd mo v ement o f bo th c ha rg ed a nd
neu tra l p a rtic l es is ef f ec ted, s a id c y c l o tro n res o na nc e
ex c ita tio n o f s a id reg io n is c o ntinu ed u ntil the el ec tro n
c o nc entra tio n o f s a id reg io n rea c hes a v a l u e o f a t l ea s t
1 0 6 p er c u bic c entimeter a nd ha s a n io n energ y o f a t
l ea s t 2 ev .
2 . The metho d o f c l a im 1 inc l u ding the s tep o f p ro v id
ing a rti? c ia l p a rtic l es in s a id a t l ea s t o ne reg io n whic h
a re ex c ited by s a id el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e.
4 , 6 8 6 , 6 0 5
1 5
3 . The metho d o f c l a im 2 wherein s a id a rti? c ia l p a rti
c l es a re p ro v ided by inj ec ting s a me into s a id a t l ea s t o ne
reg io n f ro m a n o rbiting s a tel l ite.
4 . The metho d o f c l a im 1 wherein s a id thres ho l d
ex c ita tio n o f el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e is a bo u t 1
wa tt p er c u bic c entimeter a nd is s u f ? c ient to c a u s e
mo v ement o f a p l a s ma reg io n a l o ng s a id div erg ing ma g
netic ? el d l ines to a n a l titu de hig her tha n the a l titu de a t
whic h s a id ex c ita tio n wa s initia ted.
5 . The metho d o f c l a im 4 wherein s a id ris ing p l a s ma
reg io n p u l l s with it a s u bs ta ntia l p o rtio n o f neu tra l p a rti
c l es o f the a tmo s p here whic h ex is t in o r nea r s a id
p l a s ma reg io n.
6 . The metho d o f c l a im 1 wherein there is p ro v ided a t
l ea s t o ne s ep a ra te s o u rc e o f s ec o nd el ec tro ma g netic
ra dia tio n, s a id s ec o nd ra dia tio n ha v ing a t l ea s t o ne f re
q u enc y dif f erent f ro m s a id ? rs t ra dia tio n, imp ing ing
s a id a t l ea s t o ne s ec o nd ra dia tio n o n s a id reg io n whil e
s a id reg io n is u nderg o ing el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e
ex c ita tio n c a u s ed by s a id ? rs t ra dia tio n.
7 . The metho d o f c l a im 6 wherein s a id s ec o nd ra dia
tio n ha s a f req u enc y whic h is a bs o rbed by s a id reg io n.
8 . The metho d o f c l a im 6 wherein s a id reg io n is
p l a s ma in the io no s p here a nd s a id s ec o nd ra dia tio n ex
c ites p l a s ma wa v es within s a id io no s p here.
9 . The metho d o f c l a im 8 wherein s a id el ec tro n c o n
c entra tio n rea c hes a v a l u e o f a t l ea s t 1 0 1 2 p er c u bic
c entimeter.
2 5
3 5
4 5
5 5
6 5
1 6 -
1 0 . The metho d o f c l a im 8 wherein s a id ex c ita tio n o f
el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e is initia l l y c a rried o u t
within the io no s p here a nd is c o ntinu ed f o r a time s u f ?
c ient to a l l o w s a id reg io n to ris e a bo v e s a id io no s p here.
1 1 . The metho d o f c l a im 1 wherein s a id ex c ita tio n o f
el ec tro n c y c l o tro n res o na nc e is c a rried o u t a bo v e a bo u t
5 0 0 kil o meters a nd f o r a time o f f ro m 0 . 1 to 1 2 0 0 s ee
o nds s u c h tha t mu l tip l e hea ting o f s a id p l a s ma reg io n is
a c hiev ed by mea ns o f s to c ha s tic hea ting in the ma g neto
s p here.
1 2 . The metho d o f c l a im 1 wherein s a id ? rs t el ec tro
ma g netic ra dia tio n is rig ht ha nd c irc u l a rl y p o l a riz ed in
the no rthern hemis p here a nd l ef t ha nd c irc u l a rl y p o l a r
iz ed in the s o u thern hemis p here.
1 3 . The metho d o f c l a im 1 wherein s a id el ec tro ma g
netic ra dia tio n is g enera ted a t the s ite o f a na tu ra l l y
o c c u rring hy dro c a rbo n f u el s o u rc e, s a id f u el s o u rc e
being l o c a ted in a t l ea s t o ne o f no rtherl y o r s o u therl y
ma g netic l a titu des .
1 4 . The metho d o f c l a im 1 3 wherein s a id f u el s o u rc e
is na tu ra l g a s a nd el ec tric ity f o r g enera ting s a id el ec tro
ma g netic ra dia tio n is o bta ined by bu rning s a id na tu ra l
g a s in a t l ea s t o ne o f ma g neto h' y dro dy na mic , g a s tu r
bine, f u el c el l , a nd E GD el ec tric g enera to rs l o c a ted a t
the s ite where s a id na tu ra l g a s na tu ra l l y o c c u rs in the
ea rth.
1 5 . The metho d o f c l a im 1 4 wherein s a id s ite o f na tu
ra l g a s is within the ma g netic l a titu des tha t enc o mp a s s
A l a s ka .