MUON-CATALYZED FUSION ON THIN-ATMOSPHERE PLANETS OR MOONS USING COSMIC RAYS FOR MUON GENERATION

摘要

In various units, a coating of chips or pellets comprising a deuterium-containing micro-fusion fuel material produce energetic reaction products and/or EM radiation in the presence of an ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons generated from the cosmic rays. The chips may contain solid Li⁶D or encapsulate liquid or frozen D₂O. Micro-fusion reactions proceed via muon-catalyzed fusion, particle-target fusion, or both. These may produce usable heat for a space heater to heat surrounding spaces directly or communicate via circulating fluid with a heat exchanger located for more remote heating of spaces away from the generator. EM radiation can be converted to electricity, either directly or via heating of a circulating liquid and thermoelectric conversion. Mechanical work may also be performed by the energetic reaction products, wherein a coated panel mounted on a transport vehicle may serve as a propulsion unit, the energetic reaction products directly providing horizontal thrust or providing electricity via heating (as before) to drive the vehicle. Other mechanical devices include paddle wheels coated with the chips to generate rotary motion, and levers coated on one lever arm to produce a beneficial force at the other lever arm.