The first experiments on the latest installation for confining thermonuclear plasma in linear magnetic systems confirmed the possibility of creating a plasma rocket engine, Alexander Ivanov, deputy director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP SB RAS), told reporters on Thursday.
At the end of last year, the institute launched a unique scientific installation that brings Russia closer to the creation of a thermonuclear reactor. The POLA (Spiral Magnetic Open Trap) facility is a plasma trap that will test a fundamentally new concept of improved confinement of thermonuclear plasma in linear magnetic systems. The installation is focused on solving several problems, including creating a prototype engine for space travel. The NPO Energomash holding announced in October that it plans to create a model of an electrodeless plasma rocket engine (TPRD) of high power and a test bench for it, such engines could well show themselves in the vastness of the solar system.
“The installation started to work with a certain limitation on the parameters associated with the use of temporary parts. The first experiments showed that the effect exists. And the space engine works, and the means for reducing plasma losses too,”the scientist said.
Ivanov noted that standard equipment has now been installed, in connection with which scientists are preparing to start new experiments at the facility in January 2019, which should fully demonstrate its capabilities.
“Installation - demonstrator, prototype. The plasma temperature in it is 100 thousand degrees and a fairly high density. For a neutron source these parameters are far from the required ones, but for an engine this is exactly what is needed,”he said.
The scientist explained that the proposed principle of operation of the engine is based on a new method of accelerating plasma flows, which is associated with a special configuration of the magnetic field, where the plasma is set in rotation. In this case, depending on the direction of rotation, the plasma is either decelerated or accelerated, which creates a jet thrust.