Future of Antiproton Triggered Fusion Propulsion

Abstract

Antiproton triggered fusion propulsion appears to be a promising method for achieving high specific impulse and high thrust in a nuclear pulse propulsion system. In antiproton triggered fusion systems the antiprotons are injected into a pellet containing fusion fuel with a small amount of fissionable material. The fission fragments resulting from the annihilation of antiprotons are used to trigger a fusion reaction. Initial estimates indicate that if magnetically insulated inertial confinement fusion is used that the pellets should result in a specific impulse of between 100,000 and 300,000 seconds at high thrust. The engineering problems that must be overcome are significant. Among the challenges the most difficult may be the precise focusing of the antiprotons required to generate extremely large magnetic fields. Other challenges include the pellet design necessary to contain the fission and initial fusion products which will also require strong magnetic fields. The fusion fuel must also be contained for a sufficiently long time to effectively release the fusion energy, and the payload must be shielded from the radiation, especially the excess neutrons emitted, in addition to other particles.

Positron Induced Fusion Pulsed Space Propulsion through an Ultra-Intense Laser

“…These materials are arranged in a concentric manner. The antimatter incident on the pellet is sufficient to commence nuclear fusion [14] [15] [16].…”