AAWSAP DIRD, Aneutronic Fusion Propulsion I, November 2010

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it collapses and generates a magnetic pinch for a fraction of a second that has high
enough temperatures to generate fusion in the diffuse gas. The production of neutrons
in D-T fusion can be on the order of 10 13 neutrons. While this production may seem
high, if this pulsed system were fired 10 times in 1 second, and all of the energy of the
electrons and ions could be captured, the energy production would amount to only 280
watts.
MUON-CATALYZED FUSION
This method, sensationalized by Steven Jones at the University of Utah in the 1980s,
makes use of the fact that certain material crystal shapes (hexagonal close pack, or
HCP) tend to "hide" atoms of hydrogen in the interstitial space between atomic planes
in the crystal. By diffusing deuterium into the crystal through electrolysis, fusion could
be achieved. The famous scientist Sakarov observed this phenomenon as a way to
account for the presence of He-3 in platinum. Platinum, palladium, and titanium are
the materials that were used most often to demonstrate this technique. Initiating
fusion by this method has been very poor.
CAVITATION (BUBBLE) FUSION
In water, vapor bubbles are produced when pressures drop below 2,300 pascals ( ~2%
of atmospheric pressure) through a process called "cavitation." When these cavitation
bubbles collapse, they produce high temperatures and pressures for a short period of
time. Cavitation has been shown to release enough energy to pit ship propeller blades.
In addition, heavy water (D2O) and deuterated acetone have been used to demonstrate
that cavitation can cause particles from fusion. Unfortunately, to date, the performance
of cavitation fusion systems has been low.
ROCKET DESIGN USING FUSION ENERGY
While nuclear fusion releases large amounts of energy for a minimal quantity of fuel,
initiation of the fusion reaction means that fusion ignition dictates the design of the
system . Possible spacecraft designs include pulsed nuclear explosions with impact
plates or sails; plasma confinement methods that generate charged particles used
directly for propulsion; and confinement methods that heat a propellant, like liquid
hydrogen, to be ejected through a Laval nozzle.
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