Antiproton Annihilation Propulsion PDF Download

Author: Robert L. Forward
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Propellants
Languages : en
Pages : 230

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Author: Michael LaPointe
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Antimatter
Languages : en
Pages : 462

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Author: Daniel Antonio Zayas
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 87

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A novel concept for the extraction and long-term trapping of antiprotons from planetary magnetospheres is developed. The excitation via rotating magnetic field of an electron population within a distributed neutral plasma is shown to produce a large-scale magnetic field approximating a dipole with r-2 or slower decay. These shallow field gradients are, in turn, found to suppress the natural tendency of the magnetic dipole field to shield against incident particle fluxes. Particle transport and plasma interaction models are developed and used to compare collection performance against various electrostatic and magnetostatic collection systems. Baseline system architectures are presented, and antiproton collection rates on the order of nanograms per day are estimated, far exceeding current Earth-based production rates. To demonstrate the performance potential of antiproton fuels for spacecraft propulsion, a modified rocket equation with relativistic corrections and variable mass-energy conversion efficiency is derived. Antimatter engines operating via the catalysis of nuclear fission in a fissile material by antiprotons are found to be three to four (3 - 4) times more efficient than traditional proton-antiproton annihilation or "beam-core" engines, and vastly more efficient than conventional chemical and electric propulsion systems. Baseline architectures for various missions are presented.

Author: Charles Baltay
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Annihilation reactions
Languages : en
Pages : 20

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Author: Michael R. LaPointe
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 18

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Author: N. Barash
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Annihilation reactions
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Author: Theodore E. Kalogeropoulos
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Annihilation reactions
Languages : en
Pages : 70

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Author: Charles Baltay
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Annihilation reactions
Languages : en
Pages : 52

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Author:
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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At the stage of the antiproton-nucleon annihilation chain of events relevant to propulsion the annihilation produces energetic charged pions and gamma rays. If annihilation occurs in a complex nucleus, protons, neutrons, and other nuclear fragments are also produced. The charge, number, and energy of the annihilation products are such that annihilation rocket engine concepts involving relatively low specific impulse (I/sub sp/ approx. = 1000 to 2000 s) and very high I/sub sp/ (3 x 107 s) appear feasible and have efficiencies on the order of 50% for annihilation energy to propulsion energy conversion. At I/sub sp/'s of around 15,000 s, however, it may be that only the kinetic energy of the charged nuclear fragments can be utilized for propulsion in engines of ordinary size. An estimate of this kinetic energy was made from known pieces of experimental and theoretical information. Its value is about 10% of the annihilation energy. Control over the mean penetration depth of protons into matter prior to annihilation is necessary so that annihilation occurs in the proper region within the engine. Control is possible by varying the antiproton kinetic energy to obtain a suitable annihilation cross section. The annihilation cross section at low energies is on the order of or larger than atomic areas due to a rearrangement reaction, but it is very low at high energy where its value is closer to nuclear areas.

Author: Charles Baltay
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Annihilation reactions
Languages : en
Pages : 20

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