Abstract
Fusion gasdynamic mirror (GDM) space propulsion concepts have been previously explored using deuterium, tritium, and helium-3 fuels. This work is a similar design study using the advanced fusion fuel combination, hydrogen and boron-11. A GDM using p-11B is optimized for the parameters of temperature, density, fuel ratio, and mirror radius. Even after optimization, a traditional GDM using p-11B and achieving breakeven appears to be impractical due to bremsstrahlung and synchrotron radiation losses. A nuclear electric assisted version of the system is examined and found to decrease the size and mass of the system. The optimal plasma temperature is also reduced by the assistance which decreases the technical requirements for magnetic confinement.
Ohlandt, Chad;
Powell, Kenneth G;
[1]
Kammash, Terry
[2]
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (United States)
- Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (United States)
Citation Formats
Ohlandt, Chad, Powell, Kenneth G, and Kammash, Terry.
A design study of a p-11B gasdynamic mirror fusion propulsion system.
United States: N. p.,
2003.
Web.
doi:10.1063/1.1541330.
Ohlandt, Chad, Powell, Kenneth G, & Kammash, Terry.
A design study of a p-11B gasdynamic mirror fusion propulsion system.
United States.
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1541330
Ohlandt, Chad, Powell, Kenneth G, and Kammash, Terry.
2003.
"A design study of a p-11B gasdynamic mirror fusion propulsion system."
United States.
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1541330.
@misc{etde_20621408,
title = {A design study of a p-11B gasdynamic mirror fusion propulsion system}
author = {Ohlandt, Chad, Powell, Kenneth G, and Kammash, Terry}
abstractNote = {Fusion gasdynamic mirror (GDM) space propulsion concepts have been previously explored using deuterium, tritium, and helium-3 fuels. This work is a similar design study using the advanced fusion fuel combination, hydrogen and boron-11. A GDM using p-11B is optimized for the parameters of temperature, density, fuel ratio, and mirror radius. Even after optimization, a traditional GDM using p-11B and achieving breakeven appears to be impractical due to bremsstrahlung and synchrotron radiation losses. A nuclear electric assisted version of the system is examined and found to decrease the size and mass of the system. The optimal plasma temperature is also reduced by the assistance which decreases the technical requirements for magnetic confinement.}
doi = {10.1063/1.1541330}
journal = []
issue = {1}
volume = {654}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United States}
year = {2003}
month = {Jan}
}
title = {A design study of a p-11B gasdynamic mirror fusion propulsion system}
author = {Ohlandt, Chad, Powell, Kenneth G, and Kammash, Terry}
abstractNote = {Fusion gasdynamic mirror (GDM) space propulsion concepts have been previously explored using deuterium, tritium, and helium-3 fuels. This work is a similar design study using the advanced fusion fuel combination, hydrogen and boron-11. A GDM using p-11B is optimized for the parameters of temperature, density, fuel ratio, and mirror radius. Even after optimization, a traditional GDM using p-11B and achieving breakeven appears to be impractical due to bremsstrahlung and synchrotron radiation losses. A nuclear electric assisted version of the system is examined and found to decrease the size and mass of the system. The optimal plasma temperature is also reduced by the assistance which decreases the technical requirements for magnetic confinement.}
doi = {10.1063/1.1541330}
journal = []
issue = {1}
volume = {654}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United States}
year = {2003}
month = {Jan}
}