Propulsion systems based on proton-antiproton annihilation can provide significant improvements over more conventional systems. The annihilation of proton-antiproton pairs produces high energy pions. The charged pions that are produced provide a source of readily recovered energy, but the neutral pions decay before they can transfer even a negligible amount of energy.These neutral pions decay predominantly into two high energy gamma rays. The gamma rays are a source of radiation damage and hence shielding may be required. The energy absorption in the shield can be calculated based on gamma ray interactions with matter. Initial calculation have shown that a shield of approximately 3.5 metric tons is required to protect a crew when a spacecraft is provided with the energy equivalent of four milligrams of antimatter. Such a spacecraft would be able to deliver a payload of 10 tons (including the shield) to a final speed of 3.5 km/sec. The mass of shield could be reduced by a factor of two if the electrons, and positrons, created in the shield were diverted by a magnetic field. The radiation absorbed can provide a source of energy for use during propulsion maneuvers.
Radiation shield analyses for antimatter rockets
Strahlenschutzanalyse fuer Rakekten mit Antimaterie
AIAA-Papers ; Jul ; 1-8
1987
8 Seiten, 9 Bilder, 3 Tabellen, 14 Quellen
Conference paper
English
Radiation shield analyses for antimatter rockets
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