We describe a space propulsion system based on the Colliding Beam Fusion Reactor (CBFR). The CBFR is a high-beta, field-reversed, magnetic configuration with ion energies in the range of hundreds of keV. Repetitively-pulsed ion beams sustain the plasma distribution and provide current drive. The confinement physics is based on the Vlasov-Maxwell equation, including a Fokker Planck collision operator and all sources and sinks for energy and particle flow. The mean azimuthal velocities and temperatures of the fuel ion species are equal and the plasma current is unneutralized by the electrons. The resulting distribution functions are thermal in a moving frame of reference. The ion gyro-orbit radius is comparable to the dimensions of the confinement system, hence classical transport of the particles and energy is expected and the device is scaleable. We have analyzed the design over a range of 10 6 −10 9 Watts of output power (0.15–150 Newtons thrust) with a specific impulse of, I sp ∼10 6 sec . A 50 MW propulsion system might involve the following parameters: 4-meters diameter×10-meters length, magnetic field ∼7 Tesla, ion beam current ∼10 A, and fuels of either D-He 3 ,P-B 11 ,P-Li 6 ,D-Li 6 , etc.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Colliding beam fusion reactor space propulsion system



    Conference:

    SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL FORUM - 2000 ; 2000 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 504 , 1 ; 1425-1430


    Publication date :

    2000-01-19


    Size :

    6 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Colliding Beam Fusion Reactor Space Propulsion System

    Wessel, F. J. / Binderbauer, M. W. / Rostoker, N. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000


    Self-Fueling Fusion Hybrid Reactor For Space Power And Propulsion

    Kammash, T. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2010


    Self-Fueling Fusion Hybrid Reactor for Space Power and Propulsion

    Kammash, T. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2011


    Applying design principles to fusion reactor configurations for propulsion in space

    CARPENTER, SCOTT / DEVENY, MARC / SCHULZE, NORMAN | AIAA | 1993


    Beam space propulsion

    Bolonkin, Alexander | Online Contents | 2008