Two difficulties with the use of laser-propelled lightsails for interstellar propulsion are the extremely low energy efficiency, and the extremely large lenses required. Both the energy efficiency and the required lens size may be greatly improved by use of a particle beam, rather than a light beam. The particle beam is reflected by a magnetic field on the spacecraft, for example, by a magnetic sail or a mini-magnetosphere inflated by a plasma current. This results in a net force on the sail with no expenditure of propellant, allowing extremely high delta-V missions, such as an interstellar probe, to be accomplished.


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    Title :

    Interstellar Flight by Particle Beam


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2001


    Size :

    4 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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