Flesh Out More Sail Physics and Engineering Details |
When funded by NASA we concentrated on missions out to Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. The estimate for travelling to another star was preliminary, dependent on many higher order effects that we did not have time to delve into. The work plan includes:
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Upgrade and Commission the NIAC-Funded Thrust-Test Apparatus |
When funded by NASA we constructed a torsion balance apparatus designed to measure the thrust generated by antimatter exposure of a uranium foil. The apparatus was never instrumented nor commissioned. Note also that it has been sitting (not under vacuum) for a decade. As part of this campaign we intend to:
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Develop a Roadmap for Robust Antimatter Production |
One of the two dominant criticisms of the use of antimatter in deep-space propulsion systems is its availability. We will put together a comprehensive roadmap for creating an antimatter production complex sufficient for a robust interstellar exploration program. Key issues contained in the roadmap will be:
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Develop a Detailed Plan for Long-Lived Antimatter Storage |
The other of two dominant criticisms of the use of antimattter in deep-space propulsion systems is its long-term storage. While the above roadmap looks at the short-term storage of antihydrogen during the production process, this effort is dedicated to understanding the limits of on-board spacecraft antihydrogen storage. A key advantage of antimatter-driven propulsion over competing concepts such as laser-driven sails is the potential ability to decelerate and go into orbit around the destination star. Such a capability requires the storage of antimatter for decades. Issues to be addressed include:
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Generate a List of Future Technology Validation Experiments |
While it is intellectually stimulating to innovate potential propulsion systems on paper, the key to eventually making such visions a reality is the experimental validation of these technologies. While the funding and time constraints of this campaign prevent the actual execution of such technology demonstrations, we can nonetheless put together of list of such experiments to be funded in future campaigns. Such a list is likely to include the following experiments:
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Investigate Resurrecting Antiproton Production at Fermilab |
The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory ("Fermilab") resides in Batavia, IL USA. While Fermilab was once able to generate 15 nanograms of antiprotons, they have shut down antiproton production. While it was active we had over 10 years of experience increasing the production rate. Our plan is to restart antiproton production at Fermilab at a sufficient rate to support validation experiments. Before this can happen, many issues will have to be resolved. Some of these issues are:
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Investigate Performing Thrust Tests with CERN Antiprotons |
The CERN laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland is the at present the only robust source of antiprotons. There are several international collaborations working there studying various physics problems using antiprotons. There are many issues, some involving years to overcome, if we are to ever measure antimatter-driven thrust at CERN. Some of these issues are:
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Create a List of Potential Interstellar Destinations |
Racing to be the first to transit another solar system without stopping is similar to being the first to cross the English Channel with a human-powered aircraft. It is a great achievement, it may lead to improved aircraft technologies and reveal new limits to human endurance, but does not enable another forefront of discovery. Our preference is to enable missions that go into orbit around other stars and planets. For example, nearby planets thought to be in a habitable zone are:
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Construct an Antihydrogen Production Analog Experiment |
Using normal hydrogen as an analog for antihydrogen, we would begin to fabricate and commission the equipment needed to perform the following experiments:
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With sufficient funding, it is possible to convince an existing collaboration at CERN to incorporate our efforts into their run plan. Once accomplished, we would put together a detailed research proposal neede to acquire CERN program committee approval. We may also be able to begin acquiring the needed equipment to perform the experiment, such as the NASA HiPAT antimatter storage container. |