Artist rendition of Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket, VASIMR plasma engine
Microwave plasma systems can be new tools for fusion technology. Microwaves heat the gas or other material and turn it into plasma. Magnets drive anion and ion plasma together. And that should create fusion. Microwave-magnet systems should make fusion possible in Tokamak-type fusion reactors.
However, linear accelerators that drive anions and ions together can open the path to the entire solar system. The pulsed plasma fusion reactors impact ions and anions in the rocket's combustion chamber. But plasma engines are powerful tools even without fusion. The magnetic field that makes plasma levitate in the rocket chamber is the tool. That can make it possible to increase the plasma's temperature.
In plasma rocket. Lasers or microwaves heat plasma in the combustion chamber. The plasma system can use magnetic tracks to drive plasma backward. But that magnetic system is not necessary. The expanding plasma can give thrust to the rocket without the magnetic drive.
Controlling the pulsed plasma rockets' flight to Mars and other planets is theoretically quite easy. The ion and plasma systems can create weak thrust. And that is one argument against the electrostatic engine systems. In some visions, the ion engine sends ions to the sail or plate at the front of the craft.
Above: Plasma rocket engine. In some models system sends gas into the track. Then laser or microwave beams ionize that gas. And then the system drives that plasma backward.
The plasma engine can give thrust to the solar sail. In that system, the ion engine will send ions to the solar sail at the front of the craft.
The craft can be connected to the solar sail. Then at the begin of the journey, the solar sail gives speed to that craft. And when the distance to the sun increases the ion system can start to shoot ions or plasma to the solar sail. That will act like a fan that blows air to sail in Donald Duck strip.
In some visions, interplanetary spacecraft can slow its speed for orbiting trajectory using the brake parachute. The rocket opens the parachute behind it. And then the engine presses against that parachute. The system can use things like variable chamber geometry. When plasma or ions that give minimum energy push forward shoot ions to parachute. It creates a counterforce that slows the rocket's speed.
High-power plasma jet engines can be powerful engine systems for aircraft. In electric jet engines, the electric arc expands air in the combustion chamber. In plasma jet engines the system uses ionized gas to make thrust. The ionized gas can hover without contact in the combustion chambers. And that allows it to increase its power.
The plasma systems can also used as stealth and anti-missile systems. In some visions, high-speed drones or aircraft can fly between bombers and ground. Those drones create the plasma layer that denies the radar impulses to travel through the plasma layer.
https://scitechdaily.com/a-simpler-path-to-fusion-the-promise-of-spherical-tokamak-technology/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_propulsion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_propulsion_engine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_Specific_Impulse_Magnetoplasma_Rocket
Comments
Post a Comment