1. FUSION PROPULSION

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

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

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

5. Deuterium-Tritium Fusion

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

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

8. 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

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

10. 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

12. 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

13. 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

15. 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

17. 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

18. Muon catalyzed D-T Fusion
D-T Molecule

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

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

21. 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