AbstractA shear flow stabilized z-pinch has in the past been proposed as a propulsion device for space travel. In high density plasmas non-neutronic fusion chain reactions are possible, which are ideally suited for propulsion. In z-pinches, high densities are only possible if the magnetically confined plasma can be stabilized, but it has been shown that sheared helical flow has a stabilizing effect on z-pinch instabilities. A novel mechanism for producing sheared helical flow was first proposed in 1999. Here we present flow profiles that can provide the shear and also prevent the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability from growing at the plasma/ambient medium boundary.
Fusion propulsion with a sheared helical flow stabilized z-pinch
Acta Astronautica ; 65 , 5-6 ; 787-791
2009-03-05
5 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Fusion propulsion with a sheared helical flow stabilized z-pinch
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