FUSION PROPULSION

INTRODUCTION A new concept for an interplanetary and interstellar mission engine Fusion reaction is used to produce thrust to propel the rockets Fusion rockets

WHAT IS FUSION? Fusion occurs when two nuclei combine to from a new nucleus

Fusion fuels are mainly Deuterium and Tritium Deuterium contains one proton and one neutron Tritium has one proton and two neutrons

Deuterium-Tritium Fusion

Plasma is made up of atoms it is also called ionized gas

Movement of charged particles in a plasma Absence of magnetic field Presence of magnetic field

CONDITIONS SHOULD BE CREATED FOR THE FUSION TO OCCUR The two nuclei should be bring in contact High temperature About 100 million °C Created by using Laser beams, microwaves

High pressure Pressure squeezes the hydrogen atoms together Using intense magnetic fields, powerful lasers or ion beams

MANETIC CONFINEMENT FUSION Electricity & neutral particle beams are used to heat the stream of gas Plasma is squeezed by the super conducting magnets Optimum for power generation

MANETIC CONFINEMENT FUSION PROPULSION Reactions takes place in a magnetic bottle Products exhausted through a magnetic nozzle Two primary problems Prohibitively large weight Difficult to create a magnetic bottle with magnetic rocket exhaust nozzle

INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION PROPULSION Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Uses laser beam or ion beams to heat & squeeze the deuterium and tritium pellet Pellet is bombarded on all sides by strong pulses from lasers or particle accelerators Inertia of fuel holds it together long enough for most of it to undergo fusion

Beams explosively detonates the outer layer Sending a shock wave in to the center which is powerful enough for achieving high enough density at center to cause some fusion reactions This heats surrounding fuel creating a chain reaction that burns the fuel load

MUON-CATALYSED FUSION PROPULSION A negative muon is an elementary particle similar to an electron Muons replaces the electrons and allow their negative charge to effectively shield the positively charged nuclei from each other

Muon catalyzed D-T Fusion D-T Molecule

Eliminates electric repulsion force & fusion take place Fusion energy ejects the muon& goes of to another nucleus thus catalyses many reactions till it decays

Muon has to be manufactured on the space craft If unable to catalyze many reactions the system is inefficient

CONCLUSION This concept increases the mission flexibility, enabling new science missions and greater flexibility in reaching & exploring distant planets It reduces the time for the journey in space mission by 50% compared to the chemical rocket