Advanced Concept Ramjet Propulsion System Utilizing In-Situ Positron Antimatter Derived from Ultra-Intense Laser with Fundamental Performance Analysis

Robert Le Moyne,Timothy Mastroianni

doi:10.4236/jamp.2014.25003

Abstract

The fundamental performance analysis of an advanced concept ramjet propulsion system using antimatter is presented. Antimatter is generated by ultra-intense laser pulses incident on a gold target. The scientific foundation for the generation of antimatter by an ultra-intense laser was established in the early 1970’s and later demonstrated at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from 2008 to 2009. Antimatter on the scale of 2 × 1010 positrons were generated through a ~1 ps pulse from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Titan laser that has an intensity of ~1020 W/cm2. The predominant mechanism is the Bethe-Heitler process, which involves high-energy bremsstrahlung photons as a result of electron-nuclei interaction. Propulsion involving lasers through chemical rather than non-chemical interaction has been previously advocated by Phipps. The major utilities of the ultra-intense laser derived antimatter ramjet are the capability to generate antimatter without a complex storage system and the ability to decouple the antimatter ramjet propulsion system from the energy source. For instance the ultra-intense laser and energy source could be terrestrial, while the ramjet could be mounted to a UAV as a propulsion system. With the extrapolation of current technologies, a sufficient number of pulses by ultra-intense lasers are eventually anticipated for the generation of antimatter to heat the propulsive flow of a ramjet. Fundamental performance analysis is provided based on an ideal ramjet derivation that is modified to address the proposed antimatter ramjet architecture.

Highlights

Over the past four decades both applied and theoretical science have progressively evolved to yield the capacityHow to cite this paper: Le Moyne, R. and Mastroianni, T. (2014) Advanced Concept Ramjet Propulsion System Utilizing In-Situ Positron Antimatter Derived from Ultra-Intense Laser with Fundamental Performance Analysis
Mastroianni to generate on demand and in-situ antimatter from ultra-intense lasers incident on high atomic number targets [1,2,3]
The thrust as a function of Mach number was presented for an ultra-intense laser derived in-situ antimatter ramjet through fundamental performance analysis using an ideal ramjet

Summary

Introduction

How to cite this paper: Le Moyne, R. and Mastroianni, T. (2014) Advanced Concept Ramjet Propulsion System Utilizing In-Situ Positron Antimatter Derived from Ultra-Intense Laser with Fundamental Performance Analysis. (2014) Advanced Concept Ramjet Propulsion System Utilizing In-Situ Positron Antimatter Derived from Ultra-Intense Laser with Fundamental Performance Analysis. Mastroianni to generate on demand and in-situ antimatter from ultra-intense lasers incident on high atomic number targets [1,2,3]. Experiments conducted throughout 2008 to 2009 confirmed the capacity to generate considerable quantities of antimatter positrons through the application of an ultra-intense laser on a high atomic number target, such as gold [2,3]. The basis for the generation of antimatter as a consequence of the incident ultra-intense laser pulse is derived from the resultant interaction of electrons and nuclei [2,3,4]. The gold target with the incident ultra-intense laser could be geometrically consistent with a ramjet propulsion system on the scale of a UAV. The origins of the ramjet propulsion system date from the dawn of the 20th century and have progressively evolved over the course of the past century [10]

Historical Foundation of the Ramjet and Derivation of the Ideal Ramjet

In-Situ Antimatter Derived from an Ultra-Intense Laser

Conclusion