Magnetospheric plasma propulsion is a novel propulsion scheme that makes use of the ambient energy of the solar wind by coupling to the solar wind through a large-scale ( 10 km) magnetic bubble or mini-magnetosphere. The magnetosphere is produced by the injection of plasma on to the magnetic field… More

The proposed work seeks to develop and optimize an electrode-less plasma propulsion system that is based on a high power helicon (HPH) that is being developed collaboratively between MSNW and the University of Washington. The helicon is well suited for this task, as it is known for efficient… More

75650-For the plasma jet liner approach to magnetized target fusion, a plasma accelerator is required that is capable of launching a plasma jet with a mass of 0.2 mg to 0.4 mg and a diameter no larger than about 20 cm. In addition, the accelerator must be capable of attaining plasma/plasmoid… More

A new thruster has been conceived and tested that is based on a high power helicon (HPH) plasma wave. In this new method of propulsion, an antenna generates and propagates a helicon wave in a plasma providing a non-thermal, wave-based mechanism for the subsequent acceleration of the plasma ions to… More

75650S For the plasma jet liner approach to magnetized target fusion, a plasma accelerator is required that is capable of launching a plasma jet with a mass of 0.2 mg to 0.4 mg and a diameter no larger than about 20 cm. In addition, the accelerator must be capable of attaining plasma/plasmoid… More

The Electrodeless Lorentz Force (ELF) Thruster is based on recent laboratory results on the formation and acceleration of magnetized plasmoids. The goal of the proposed research is to build and test a prototype that has the potential to surpass all current electric propulsion systems in efficiency,… More

Nuclear fusion has the potential to satisfy the prodigious power that the world will demand in the future, but it has yet to be harnessed as a practical energy source. The main challenge is to identify an economical way to provide for the confinement and heating of the plasma fuel. The massive… More

The Electrodeless Lorentz Force (ELF) Thruster is a new propulsion device designed to operate at the highest jet powers, well beyond the currently developed electric propulsion thrusters. Based on recent laboratory results on the formation and acceleration of magnetized plasmoids, the goal of the… More

Nuclear fusion has the potential to satisfy the prodigious power demands of the future. It has yet to be harnessed as a practical energy source because of the challenge of finding an economical way to confine and heat the plasma fuel. The main reason for this is the complexity and size of the… More

Plasma-liner-driven magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) is an emerging concept for practical inertial fusion facilities that may one day provide an abundant source of carbon-free energy. For this concept to be successful, it will be necessary to achieve high momentum and high Mach number plasma jets, in… More

The Electromagnetic Plasmoid Thruster (EMPT) is a revolutionary electric propulsion thruster and power processing (PPU) system that will allow a dramatic decrease in system mass and increase in thrust efficiency over traditional 500-1000 W propulsion systems. The high specific power (>700 W/kg) and… More

A new thruster technology, the Electrodeless Lorentz Force (ELF) thruster, has been designed and tested at MSNW that has the capability to address the demanding combined requirements of high specific power, high efficiency, a large Isp range, and T/P in a single, lightweight device. The ELF thruster… More

The Electromagnetic Plasmoid Thruster (EMPT) is a revolutionary electric propulsion thruster and power processing (PPU) system that will allow a dramatic decrease in system mass and increase in thrust efficiency over traditional 500-3000 W propulsion systems. The high specific power (>700 W/kg)… More

The Electromagnetic Plasmoid Thruster (EMPT) program demonstrated a next generation propulsion system based on the purely electromagnetic generation and Lorentz acceleration of a magnetically self-confined plasmoid. The Peristaltic Dynamic Acceleration (PDA) stage is an addition to the exhaust of… More

The Electromagnetic Plasmoid Thruster (EMPT) has demonstrated the ability to ionize, electromagnetically accelerate, and eject a broad range of complex and chemically-reactive molecular gases, including monopropellants. EMPT has the potential to dramatically increase the operational range of… More

ABSTRACT: State of the art Orbital Transfer Vehicle systems require the demanding combined requirements of both high Thrust-to-Power (greater than 120 mN/kW) and high specific impulse (greater than 3000 s), all at constant power. The 25 kW PROTEAN system is a two-stage plasmoid thruster which adds… More

ABSTRACT: MSNW"s Electrodeless Lorentz Force (ELF) thruster will address the demanding combined requirements of light weight, high efficiency, and high thrust-to-power electric propulsion in a single device. As spacecraft power systems get lighter, traditional electric propulsion thruster,… More