METHOD FOR STARTING NUCLEAR ROCKET ENGINES BASED ON RESONANT-DYNAMIC FISSION AND FUSION REACTIONS

摘要

FIELD: nuclear rocket engines. SUBSTANCE: method involves introduction of source nuclear fusion gas or steam, or fissionable gas escaping from fissionable material into reactor core or magnetic trap until desired density is attained. Then high-energy protons are injected in reactor core for the time of fission or fusion reaction initiation; these protons revolving within reactor generate neutrons from fissionable material nuclei. Electromagnetic and magnetoacoustic waves excited due to adequate selection of energy (relativistic mass of protons) have their frequency coinciding with frequency of rotation of source fusion nuclei residing in near-axis area thereby heating them to thermonuclear temperatures. In addition, high-energy protons ionize fission and fusion nuclei with the result that they start revolving under the action of crosslinked electric and magnetic fields of magnetic trap about longitudinal axis of reactor at drift speed providing for resonant fission of fissionable material nuclei during their collision with thermal neutrons entering reactor core from moderator wherein they were produced from fast neutrons during moderation of the latter. Supply of high-energy protons is ceased upon ignition of joint fission and fusion reactions. However, their supply may be continued in case critical density of fissionable material should be additionally reduced or additional nuclear energy should be generated. EFFECT: provision for joint resonant-dynamic fission and fusion reactions due to high-energy protons accelerated to energy of hundreds of megaelectron-volts. 1 dwg, 2 tbl