United States Patent Application 20070238252
Kind Code A1
Eastlund; Bernard October 11, 2007
Cosmic particle ignition of artificially ionized plasma patterns in the atmosphere
Abstract
This invention is a method and apparatus for creating artificially ionized regions in the atmosphere utilizing ionization trails of cosmic rays and micro-meteors to ignite plasma patterns in electric field patterns formed by ground based electromagnetic wave radiators. The applications are useful for telecommunications, weather control, lightening protection and defense applications. The invention lowers the power requirements for forming artificial ionized regions in the atmosphere by a factor of up to 1600 times lower than those required in existing designs and projections for creation of artificial ionized regions in the atmosphere.
Inventors: Eastlund; Bernard; (La Jolla, CA)
Correspondence Address:
Bernard Eastlund
10327 Tuxford Dr
ST. Louis
MO
63146
US
Family ID: 38575841
Appl. No.: 11/219982
Filed: September 6, 2005
Very Long article and full of technical details.
Claims
1. A method of creating one or more artificially ionized regions in the air called cosmic particle ignition by synchronizing the establishment of an electric field pattern at an altitude above the earth's surface with the natural occurrence of ionization trails created by cosmic particles within the electric field pattern comprising: a. Detecting the position of the cosmic particle ionization trail with a detector array, b. Triggering an electromagnetic wave radiator to establish an electric field pattern at the location of the ionization trail, c. Holding the electric field pattern constant while the cosmic particle ionization trail ignites electrical breakdown of the air and fills the electric field pattern with plasma to create a plasma pattern, whereby an artificially ionized plasma region is created with lower electric fields and consequently much lower power levels than required for electrical breakdown in ambient air.
2. An electromagnetic wave radiator apparatus for said cosmic particle ignition method of creating one or more artificially ionized regions in the air comprising: a. a detector array for detecting the position and time of occurrence of a cosmic particle ionization trail at a desirable position, b. an electromagnetic wave radiator that can be triggered to radiate, c. a control system to hold the electric field strength constant while the breakdown process occurs and then to decrease the amplitude of the field pattern to a maintenance value of electric field strength.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the cosmic particle is a primary cosmic ray or secondary cosmic ray electrons occurring at altitudes between sea level and 40,000 KM.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the cosmic particle is a micrometeorite occurring at altitudes above 80,000 meters.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric field pattern is established at altitudes between sea level and 100,000 meters above the earth's surface.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electromagnetic wave radiator includes a phased array with multiple radiating elements.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the plasma pattern is reconfigured in size, shape and position by varying the phase of said multiple radiating elements.
8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the detector system is an array of Geiger-Muller counters for detection of and determining the location of cosmic ray primary and secondary particle showers by detecting muons formed by the interaction of the primary and secondary particles with the atoms of the atmosphere.
9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the detection system is an array of VLF radars for detecting the ionization trail of micro-meteors by bouncing the VLF signal off the trail.
10. A method of creating one or more artificially ionized regions in the air by first establishing an electric field pattern at desired altitude above the earth's surface then waiting for the natural occurrence of ionization trails created by cosmic particles within the electric field pattern comprising: a, establishing an electric field pattern at a desired altitude with an electromagnetic wave generator, b. Holding the electric field pattern constant for a time period called the ignition time which is the time it takes for a cosmic particle to create an ionization trail within the electric field pattern, c. Maintaining the electric field pattern constant while the cosmic particle ionization trail ignites a plasma within the electric field pattern to create a plasma pattern, whereby an artificially ionized plasma region is created with lower electric fields and consequently much lower power levels than required for electrical breakdown in ambient air.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the electromagnetic wave radiator is a phased array antenna with multiple radiating elements for transmitting said electromagnetic waves through the air.
12. The method of claim 1 or claim 10 wherein a plasma pattern is established above 10,000 meters for enhancing telecommunications signals in existing cell phone tower systems.
13. The method of claim 1 or claim 10 wherein a plasma pattern is established above 10,000 meters for a short haul telecommunications system.
14. The method of claim 1 or claim 10 wherein a plasma pattern is established above 30,000 meters for creating a city wide telecommunications system.
15. The method of claim 1 or claim 10 wherein a plasma pattern with plasma patterns shaped like dual paraboloids are located in separate locations 1600 KM apart and at an altitude of over 80,000 meters for creating a long haul telecommunications system.
16. The method of claim 1 or claim 10 wherein the air is heated by irradiating a plasma pattern located above 10,000 meters with a second electromagnetic wave radiator.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein second electromagnetic wave radiator has a variable power level that is modulated at a frequency typical of atmospheric wave phenomena. For generation of acoustic waves, the frequency would be from about 1 Hz to 60 Hz. For gravitational waves, the frequency would be from 1 Hz to 1 oscillation period per week.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the heated air can be used to control weather.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the individual radiating elements are portable.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] This invention generally relates to generation of artificially ionized plasma patterns in the atmosphere and to lowering the cost and enhancing the reliability of applications such as telecommunications systems.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] Various methods and apparatus have been suggested for creation of localized regions of ionized gas in the atmosphere for the purpose of communications enhancements and other purposes. In particular, Eastlund in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,712,155, 4,686,605 and 5,038,664 suggested creation of an artificial ionospheric mirror using electron cyclotron resonance heating from directed electromagnetic waves of 1 to 10 Mhz from a large phased array antenna located in Alaska. The power level required for such an operation was very large, over a billion watts.
[0005] Subsequent work by ARCO's then subsidiary APTI resulted in studies of the details of creation of such an ionized layer with a single phased array as described in Air Force Geophysics Laboratory Reports and in a Patent by Peter Koert. (Short et al, System Concept and Analysis for an Artificial Ionospheric Mirror (AIM) Radar, Geophysics Laboratory Report GL-TR-90-0267, Aug. 31, 1990; Peter Koert, U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,834)
[0006] These studies showed that the effective radiated power required (ERP) was above 160 to 170 DBW (Decibels per watt). For a 500 meter diameter antenna that would require a signal level of 3.times.10 8 watts and would require an expense in the 100's of millions of dollars. No atmospheric testing of such a system has been reported.
[0007] Gurevich and his group developed an alternative method of creation of ionized layers with crossed beams. (Borisov, N. D. and Gurevich, A. V. Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, Vol. 20, No. 5, 1980) Vikharev et al estimated the power requirement for such a system to be over 4.times.10 9 watts per beam with a system ERP of 160 to 170 DBW. (Vikharev, A., et al, American Geophysical Union, 1994) These crossed beam concepts required power levels of 4.times.10.sup.9 watts per transmitter and 60 meter diameter antennas. Such systems would be extremely expensive to construct. No atmospheric testing of such a system has been reported.
[0008] The reason for the large power requirements is the high value of the electric field needed to "breakdown" the air and create an ionized region. A number of authors have analyzed the required value and it ranges from 24 kilovolts per cm at sea level to about 350 kv/cm at an altitude of 40 km. This translates into 1500 Megawatts/meter 2 at an sea level and 2.3 Megawatts/meter.sup.2 at an altitude of 30 km. (Zhang, Thesis, Polytechnic University, 1991; Jordan, Ulf, Microwave Breakdown Physics and Applications, Thesis, Department of Radio and Space Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, 2005; Papadopoulos, K. et al, Ionization Rates for Atmospheric and Ionospheric Breakdown, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 98, No. A10 pp 17,593-17,596, Oct. 1, 1993)
[0009] These high power requirements and the high cost involved has been a limitation on practical applications of artificial ionized regions of plasma in the atmosphere. The high power requirements have also limited studies of artificial ionized plasma regions for communications to the range of 30 to 40 km, where the breakdown electric field is a minimum.
OBJECTIVES
[0010] The objective of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for economically and reliably generating artificially ionized plasma patterns in the air for a wide range of practical applications.
[0011] Telecommunications applications include enhancement of service quality in existing cellular networks, a short haul cellular system, a city wide cellular system, and a novel long haul communications system.
[0012] Weather control applications include a method of localized heating of the troposphere that can generate acoustic atmospheric waves or gravitational atmospheric waves for modification of the steering winds that influence weather phenomena. Another application is to provide ionized plasma patterns that can influence the charge distribution in meso-cyclones and provide a novel means of lightening protection.
SUMMARY
[0013] This invention is a method and apparatus that lowers the practical electric field for air breakdown by a factor of up to 40 and lowers the power required for producing artificial ionized regions in the air by a factor of up to 1600. This difference is sufficient to make production of such artificial ionized regions practical with inexpensive and available power sources.
[0014] This invention also removes the altitude limitation on producing artificial ionized regions in the air and allows such regions to be produced from sea level to about 80 km.
[0015] This invention is a method and apparatus that makes use of electrons produced in the atmosphere by cosmic rays and by meteor bursts to lower the electric field required for air breakdown. Another term for air breakdown that is used to describe initiation and generation of a plasma in a microwave lamp is "plasma ignition". The process described in this invention is therefore referred to as "cosmic plasma ignition."
[0016] A principal embodiment is to use cosmic particles, such as cosmic ray generated electrons or micro-meteor trails, to ignite an artificial ionized region "plasma pattern" in the air. The method is to use high power electromagnetic wave radiator to create a contiguous pattern of high electric fields (The "field pattern") in the atmosphere at a distance of between sea level and 80,000 meters and to maintain the field pattern until one or more cosmic particles such as cosmic ray electrons or micro-meteors create a columnar trail of ionized air to ignite breakdown somewhere within the field pattern. The electric fields in the field pattern accelerate the electrons in the columnar trail in all directions and produce air breakdown throughout the contiguous volume of the field pattern. The field pattern is continuously maintained during the breakdown process. The electric field intensity required for air breakdown using this method is up to 40 times lower than the value for breakdown in ambient air and the power required is lower by a factor of up to 1600. This lower power requirement makes concepts such as artificial ionospheric mirrors for communications practical. Many other applications include a potential method of lightening protection and a new approach to modifying weather related phenomena.
[0017] Another principal embodiment of this patent for utilizing cosmic particles to ignite plasma patterns in electrical field patterns in the atmosphere is by first detecting the position of the cosmic particle ionization trail with a detector array, then triggering an electromagnetic wave radiator to focus the electromagnetic waves on a region in the air that includes the ionization trail of the cosmic particle. The electromagnetic wave generator holds the electric field pattern constant while the cosmic particle ionization trail ignites electrical breakdown of the air and fills the electric field pattern with plasma to create a plasma pattern. The advantage of this method is to create an artificially ionized region of the air called a plasma pattern at a much lower power and cost than projected to be required by concepts relying on ambient air breakdown.
[0018] Another principal embodiment is to maintain the plasma pattern by continuously irradiating the plasma pattern with electromagnetic waves at a power level sufficient to maintain the plasma electron density at the value required by the desired application. Another principal method of this patent is to reconfigure the size or shape of the plasma pattern after it is established by modifying the electric field pattern. This can be done on a stationary or a dynamic basis. An example of a stationary basis method would be to change the focal pattern of the electromagnetic wave generator. An example of changing on a dynamic basis would be to change the focal position of the antenna by changing the frequency and the phase of the electromagnetic radiation generated by each radiating element of the array.
[0019] Another principal embodiment is to change the physical properties of the plasma pattern such as electromagnetic wave reflectivity, electrical conductivity and electromagnetic wave absorption varying the power level of the high power electromagnetic radiation projected from an electromagnetic wave radiator that create the contiguous pattern of high electric fields. Potential applications include use of the reflectivity of the plasma pattern for communications, the electrical conductivity for lightening protection and the absorption properties for atmospheric heating.
[0020] Another principal embodiment is to irradiate the plasma pattern with electromagnetic radiation projected from antennas that have a frequency higher than the electromagnetic radiation used to create the plasma layer to transfer energy to the region of air in or near the plasma pattern as a means of thermodynamically heating the air. Such a technique can be used to generate heated air regions and to generate acoustic waves and gravity waves in the atmosphere for weather modification purposes.
[0021] Another principal embodiment is to create multiple plasma patterns using more than one electromagnetic radiation projecting antenna system. An application of such a multiple plasma layer system would be to use two plasma patterns spaced horizontally apart at an altitude above the site to be protected, as electrically conductive electrodes to cause lightening to occur in an air to air trajectory rather than an air to ground trajectory thus protecting individuals on golf courses and beaches and other sensitive areas.
[0022] Another principal embodiment of this patent is to enhance cellular communication systems by producing disc shaped plasma patterns at altitudes of at least 10,000 meters over one or more existing cellular communications towers.
[0023] Another principal embodiment of this patent is to provide a short haul cellular telecommunications systems by producing disc shaped plasma patterns at altitudes of at least 10,000 meters and the use of at least one cellular base station with an upward pointing antenna.
[0024] Another principal embodiment of this patent is a city wide cellular communications system by producing a disc shaped plasma pattern at altitudes of at least 30,000 meters and the use of at least one cellular base station with an upward pointing antenna. Another principal embodiment of this patent is to provide a strong signal for city wide cellular communication by producing five disc shaped plasma pattern in a roughly parabolic pattern at an altitude of at least 30,000 meters and the use of at least one cellular base station with an upward pointing antenna. The additional gain provided by this system could make it possible to provide very high data rates to cellular equipment, possibly giving a WI FI connection to a whole city.
[0025] Another principal embodiment of this invention is to provide a long haul communication system by erecting shaped plasma patterns at two different locations on the earth's surface, each pattern located at an altitude of 80,000 meters and to use a base station at each location to send and receive telecommunications signals.
[0026] Another principal embodiment of this invention is a portable system for city wide communication. The individual phased array radiating elements have the capability to vary the frequency and phase of the electromagnetic wave generator and to point the electromagnetic radiation in the proper direction. Such a system would be useful for establishing cellular communication in natural disasters.
[0027] Another principal embodiment is to irradiate the plasma pattern with electromagnetic radiation projected from antennas that have a frequencies lower than the electromagnetic radiation used to create the plasma layer to accelerate electrons on the surface of the plasma layer to high energy. Such layers could be a source of high energy electrons for communications or military applications.
[0028] This invention makes practical many applications that derive from production of plasma patterns in the air.
FIGURES
[0029] FIG. 1 Schematic Drawing of a Disc Shaped Field Pattern at an altitude h
[0030] FIG. 2 Block Diagram of Electromagnetic Wave Radiator
[0031] FIG. 3 Schematic Drawing of Crossed Beam Field Pattern
[0032] FIG. 4 Schematic of Cosmic Particle Intersecting Disc Shaped Field Pattern
[0033] FIG. 5 Photograph of Cosmic Ray Ionization Trail in Microwave Spark Chamber
[0034] FIG. 6 Ambient Breakdown Electric Fields in Air-Zhang Thesis
[0035] FIG. 7 Conversion of Pressure to Altitude-U.S. Standard Atmospheric Model
[0036] FIG. 8 Additional Ambient Air Breakdown Electric Fields
[0037] FIG. 9 Cosmic Ray Electron Flux vs. Altitude in KM.
[0038] FIG. 10 Meteor Trail Schematic
[0039] FIG. 11 Meteor Trail Electron Densities
[0040] FIG. 12 Numerical Simulation Results Partially Formed Plasma Pattern
[0041] FIG. 13 Numerical Simulation Results Fully Formed Plasma Pattern
[0042] FIG. 14 Trigger Method Sequence
[0043] FIG. 15 Meteor Detector Schematic
[0044] FIG. 16 Cell Phone Tower Enhancement Schematic
[0045] FIG. 17 Short Haul Cellular System
[0046] FIG. 18 City Wide Cellular System Schematic
[0047] FIG. 19 Shaped Five Panel Plasma Pattern
[0048] FIG. 20 Line of Sight Distance Between Two High Altitude Antenna above the Earth's Surface
[0049] FIG. 21 Long Haul Telecommunications Reflector at High Altitude
[0050] FIG. 22 Plasma Patterns as Air Heaters
[0051] FIG. 23 Gravitational Wave Model
[0052] FIG. 24 Plasma Pattern Short Circuiting Charge in a Meso-cyclone
[0053] FIG. 25 Two Plasma Patterns to Short Circuit Lightening
[0054] FIG. 26 Portable Wide Area Communications System
[0055] FIG. 27 Portable Phased Array Radiating Element
DESCRIPTION
Method for Ignition of Air Breakdown to Produce Artificial Ionized Plasma Patterns in the Atmosphere
Top Level Description
[0056] The high critical electric field associated with ambient air breakdown and creation of artificial ionized plasmas in the atmosphere has required power levels too high for practical applications such as for reflection of radar waves. Cosmic particles such as cosmic rays and micro meteors produce columnar trails of ionization in the atmosphere that reduce the critical electric field for air breakdown. The method of this patent can be called "cosmic particle ignition" because it utilizes cosmic particles such as cosmic rays and micro-meteors to produce plasma patterns. In some circumstances, the reduction of the electric field can be a factor of 40, leading to a reduction of power requirements of a factor of up to 1600.
[0057] A principal embodiment of this patent is a method of creating artificial ionization regions in air at reduced critical electric fields by sequencing the timing of establishment of an electric field pattern in the air and the arrival time of cosmic particle ionization trails within the electric field pattern. For applications less than 40,000 meters, the relevant ionization trails are those produced by cosmic ray secondary electrons and for applications greater than 70,000 meters the relevant ionization trails are produced by micro meteors.
[0058] The first step of sequence for producing an artificially ionized plasma pattern in the atmosphere is to establish an electric field pattern in the air at an altitude h, by beaming electromagnetic waves from an electromagnetic wave radiator. The magnitude of the electric field in the pattern is the reduced electric field for air breakdown caused by ionization tracks. The next step is to ignite a plasma in the field pattern by holding the field pattern constant while waiting for one or more cosmic ray generated electrons or micro-meteors to intersect the field pattern and create a columnar trail of ionized air within the field pattern, resulting in initiation of the ignition process that causes air breakdown throughout the volume of the field pattern to create a "plasma pattern." The electric fields in the field pattern accelerate the electrons in the columnar ionization trail in all directions and propagate the plasma throughout the volume of the field pattern. The waiting period is called the "ignition time". The result of the application of this method is the creation of an artificial ionized region which fills the field pattern with plasma. We refer to this region as the "plasma pattern."
[0059] Another principal embodiment of this patent for utilizing cosmic particles to ignite plasma patterns in electrical field patterns in the atmosphere is by first detecting the position of the cosmic particle ionization trail with a detector array, then triggering an electromagnetic wave radiator to focus the electromagnetic waves on a region in the air that includes the ionization trail of the cosmic particle. The electromagnetic wave generator holds the electric field pattern constant while the cosmic particle ionization trail ignites electrical breakdown of the air and fills the electric field pattern with plasma to create a plasma pattern. The advantage of this method is to create an artificially ionized region of the air called a plasma pattern at a much lower power and cost than projected to be required by concepts relying on ambient air breakdown.
[0060] Quantitative details of the physics and engineering aspects are presented in the Technical Issues section, and specific apparatus configurations are described.
[0061] Such plasma patterns can have a wide range of applications in communications, lightening protection, weather modification and defense purposes.
Detailed Description of the Method for Establishing a Plasma Pattern with Cosmic Particle Ignition
First Step--Establishment of Field Pattern
[0062] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of disc shaped field pattern 100 at an altitude h above the earth's surface. An electromagnetic wave radiator 102 beams electromagnetic waves in the electromagnetic wave propagation direction 103 to create a field pattern 104 which is a disc shaped pattern with a radius, r. The thickness of the disc shaped pattern 104 is initially on the order of many meters commensurate with the focal depth of the antenna pattern.
[0063] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system components of the electromagnetic wave radiator 102. It consists of a power supply 201, a control module 202 and electromagnetic wave generator 203 with a frequency .omega. and an antenna 204. The antenna can also be a phased array, with many separate radiating elements, a horn, a slot, or any other radiating geometry. The electromagnetic wave generator 203 can be a magnetron, klystron, gyrotron or a high power pulsed microwave source such as SINUS. The field pattern can be generated in a variety of shapes depending on the choice of antenna and electromagnetic wave generator. FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a field pattern generated by crossing the electromagnetic waves from two separated electromagnetic wave radiators 301. The electromagnetic wave generator can be pulsed with a pulse duration .tau..sub.pulse, and a repetition frequency, f.sub.rep, or it can be steady state, CW. The field pattern generating system 300 can include more than two electromagnetic radiators and the field patterns can be complex as will be shown in the applications described in the patent.
Second Step--o Hold Field Pattern Constant Until Ionization Trail Occurs
[0064] The field pattern is held constant by the control system 202 until one or more ionization trails intersect the column and create columnar trails of ionization that initiate the air breakdown process. The waiting time period is called the "ignition time" and it is determined by the time dependent flux of ionization trails generated by cosmic rays below 30,000 meters and by micro-meteors above 70,000 meters. The "ignition time" .tau..sub.ign is a function of the time dependent cosmic ray generated electron flux, the duration of the EM wave pulse .tau..sub.p, the repetition rate f.sub.rep and the area of the field pattern. Equation 3 in the Technical Details describes the functional relationship between these quantities. FIG. 4 is a schematic of an ionization trail intersecting a disc shaped field pattern 104. The cosmic particle intersects the field pattern 104 creating a columnar ionization trail 402. The ionization trail is initially a series of small ionized regions, each with initial dimensions of about 0.001 cm with electron number densities above 10.sup.10 electrons/cm.sup.3. Cosmic rays have been detected at sea level by microwave field patterns. FIG. 5 is a photograph of a cosmic ray ionization trail 500 in the field pattern of a microwave waveguide. The cosmic ray particle path 501 is highlighted by a series of dots which is the columnar ionization trail 501. The microwave frequency was 1.3 Ghz and the waveguide dimensions were 7 cm by 17 cm. The electromagnetic pulse generating the field pattern had pulse duration .tau..sub.pulse of 250 nanoseconds. This figure is taken from a paper by Kustom et al (Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Vol. 118, pp. 203-211, 1974)
[0065] If the microwaves were to have been left on for a longer period of time, the electrons in these small ionized regions would be quickly accelerated causing multiplication of electrons by collisions with air molecules to create air breakdown and rapidly fill the field pattern region with plasma, creating a plasma pattern. This FIG. 5 directly demonstrates the effectiveness of the method of cosmic particle ignition of this invention.
Underlying Physics and Procedural Details
