Engineering Challenges in Antiproton Triggered Fusion Propulsion

Journal Article · Mon Jan 21 04:00:00 EST 2008 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2845008· OSTI ID:21049477

Cassenti, Brice ^[1]; Kammash, Terry ^[2]

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1. Department. of Engineering and Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 275 Windsor Avenue, Hattford, CT 06120 (United States)
2. Nuclear Engineering Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (United States)

During the last decade antiproton triggered fusion propulsion has been investigated as a method for achieving high specific impulse, high thrust in a nuclear pulse propulsion system. In general the antiprotons are injected into a pellet containing fusion fuel with a small amount of fissionable material (i.e., an amount less than the critical mass) where the products from the fission are then used to trigger a fusion reaction. Initial calculations and simulations indicate that if magnetically insulated inertial confinement fusion is used that the pellets should result in a specific impulse of between 100,000 and 300,000 seconds at high thrust. The engineering challenges associated with this propulsion system are significant. For example, the antiprotons must be precisely focused. The pellet must be designed to contain the fission and initial fusion products and this will require strong magnetic fields. The fusion fuel must be contained for a sufficiently long time to effectively release the fusion energy, and the payload must be shielded from the radiation, especially the excess neutrons emitted, in addition to many other particles. We will review the recent progress, possible engineering solutions and the potential performance of these systems.

• OSTI ID: 21049477
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 969; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANTIPROTONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CRITICAL MASS
FISSION
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUEL PELLETS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
PERFORMANCE
PROPULSION
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
PULSES
REVIEWS
THERMONUCLEAR FUELS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS