Abstract It is shown that the idea of a photon rocket through the complete annihilation of matter with antimatter, first proposed by Sänger, is not a utopian scheme as it is widely believed. Its feasibility appears to be possible by the radiative collapse of a relativistic high current pinch discharge in a hydrogen–antihydrogen ambiplasma down to a radius determined by Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. Through this collapse to ultrahigh densities the proton–antiproton pairs in the center of the pinch can become the upper gigaelectron volt laser level for the transition into a coherent gamma ray beam by proton–antiproton annihilation, with the magnetic field of the collapsed pinch discharge absorbing the recoil momentum of the beam and transmitting it by the Moessbauer effect to the spacecraft. The gamma ray laser beam is launched as a photon avalanche from one end of the pinch discharge channel. Because of the enormous technical problems to produce and store large amounts of anti-matter, such a propulsion concept may find its first realization in small unmanned space probes to explore nearby solar systems. The laboratory demonstration of a gigaelectron volt gamma ray laser by comparison requiring small amounts of anti-matter may be much closer.

    Highlights ► This paper proposes rocket propulsion by gigaelectron volt laser through the annihilation of matter with antimatter. ► It is the only known theoretical possibility to reach relativistic space craft velocities. ► The first application is for small unmanned interstellar probes. ► The storage of the antimatter is done in very large magnetic fields.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Matter–antimatter gigaelectron volt gamma ray laser rocket propulsion


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 81 , 1 ; 34-39


    Publication date :

    2012-07-01


    Size :

    6 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





    Antimatter induced fusion rocket propulsion

    KAMMASH, T. / GALBRAITH, D. | AIAA | 1990


    Antimatter Induced Fission for Nuclear Rocket Propulsion

    Kammash, Terry / Tang, Ricky | AIAA | 2006


    Antimatter Induced Fission for Nuclear Rocket Propulsion

    Kammash, T. / Tang, R. / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006