Ionic Solid Hydrogen Fuel: Experimental Investigation of Cluster-Impact Fusion

Abstract : This report discusses the investigation of a new novel fusion method: the use of deuterium-containing clusters for igniting fusion (cluster-impact fusion, CIF). If CIF becomes practical, the energy density that can be achieved with the DT fuel is 3.4 X 10 to the 14 power J/kg, which is eight orders of magnitude larger than the energy density of LOX/H2 (1,600,000 j/kg). For missions with specific impulse less than 100,000 s, the CIF rocket performance will be essentially identical to that of antimatter. Under the current project, we have successfully built and demonstrated a new cluster-impact fusion facility by extending the existing hydrogen cluster facility. We are confident that the new fusion method discovered at Brookhaven is very promising; thus, we are ready to investigate means of increasing the fusion yield to a practical level for rocket propulsion applications.