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.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Interstellar Flight by Particle Beam


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Space Technology Applications International Forum Conference on Innovative Transportation Systems for Exploration of the Solar System and Beyond ; 2001 ; Albuquerque, NM, United States


    Publication date :

    2001-01-01


    Type of media :

    Preprint


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Interstellar Flight by Particle Beam

    G. A. Landis | NTIS | 2001


    Interstellar flight by particle beam

    Landis, Geoffrey A. | Elsevier | 2004


    Interstellar Flight by Particle Beam

    Landis, G. A. / Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2001


    Interstellar flight by particle beam

    Landis, Geoffrey A. | Online Contents | 2004


    Interstellar flight systems

    FORWARD, R. | AIAA | 1980