GB2262844A - Space drive propulsion device - Google Patents

Abstract

Serving as a combination of a magnetic field generating engine and an engine controller, a thrust engine (37) generates a strong magnetic field, such as 20 million Tesla, within the magnetic field generating engine. The magnetic field generates a substantially antisymmetric field of curvature components in a hollow device region enclosed with a device shell (31) of a space drive propulsion device and in a surrounding region around the shell. When the magnetic field is cut off, the field applies a thrust to the device. Preferably, the device comprises six thrust engines for drive of the device selectively along three orthogonal coordinate axes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPACE DRIVE PROPULSION DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: This invention relates to a space drive propulsion device for use as a flying object, such as an air vehicle, a space vehicle, a manned rocket, or the like.

Various flying objects are known. For example, an aircraft or air vehicle is driven either by one or more propellers or by at least one jet engine. A rocket is driven by a rocket engine. A rocket with such a chemical engine is already in practical use. Alternatively, the rocket is driven by an electric propulsion engine, such as an engine for injecting either a plasma flow or an ion flow into a surrounding space. Although not yet practically implemented, a rocket can be driven either by atomic energy, such as nuclear fission or nuclear fusion, or by a nonchemical force, such as a force generated by a laser or, in an interplanetary space, by a force generated by solar heat.

Such a conventional flying object makes use of a working or acting substance rearwardly injected and of its reaction of forward thrust. As a consequence, the flying object has had a limited eventual speed. For example, the eventual speed of a chemical rocket is about several tens of kilometers per second. The eventual speed of an electric propulsion device is about several hundreds of kilometers per second.

Attention will now be directed to an accelerating capability which is represented by a ratio of the thrust to the weight of the flying object. For a chemical rocket, the capability is about one hundred. In contrast, the capability is only at most 10 3 for an electric propulsion device and may be as small as 10 5.

As a result, the chemical rocket is at present a sole propulsion device that can leave the gravitational field of the earth although it can be thrusted during only a short interval of time due to a restricted amount of fuel it can use.

A propulsion device should be able to stay standstill in an atmosphere, to start and stop in a moment, and to be steered in all directions. This has been impossible. Even if it were possible, this would give rise to a serious trouble to crew of the device and also to the device itself because it is impossible to cancel an inertia force.

On thrusting a propulsion device, noise must be taken into consideration. Pollution results from either the gas injected or by atomic contamination. Moreover, use of explosion may be dangerous. In the manner exemplified by a space shuttle, a chemical rocket can carry only a few members of crew on a great amount of fuel and gives the crew only a small volume ratio of from five to ten percent of the whole volume of the rocket.

Finally, a space vehicle should preferably be able to proceed at a high speed of from several hundreds of kilometers per second up to approximately at the light velocity. The space vehicle should be capable of flying in the atmosphere of the earth or in a like atmosphere of a celestial body and an interstellar space with its orientation optimally controlled and can readily take off and land on a celestial body.

In view of the foregoing, a space drive propulsion device was invented by Yoshinari MINAMI, the present inventor. A patent application was filed in Japan on September 16, 1986, and was published as Patent Prepublication (Kôkai) No. 73,302 of 1988. According to the patent prepublication, the space drive propulsion device comprises: (A) electromagnetic energy generating means for generating electromagnetic energy which varies curvature components of a space surrounding the device; and (B) control means for controlling the manner of generating the electromagnetic energy by the electromagnetic energy generating means to locally vary the curvature component of the space.

Continuing study of the space drive propulsion device, the present inventor invented several improvements in the space drive propulsion device revealed in the above-cited patent prepublication.

Meanwhile, the present inventor published a report in the Sixteenth International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, in 1988, at Sapporo, Japan. The report is in the Proceedings of the symposium, pages 125 to 136, under the title of "Space Strain Propulsion System".

Furthermore, the present inventor has invented an engine which is believed practical for use in such a space drive propulsion device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: It is an object of the present invention to provide a space drive propulsion device capable of proceeding both in the-earth's atmosphere and in interplanetary and/or interstellar space.

Other objects of this invention will become clear as the description proceeds.

According to this invention, there is provided a space drive propulsion device which encloses a hollow device region of a space and is surrounded by a surrounding region of the space, the space being capable of having a field of curvature components, and which comprises: (A) magnetic field generating means for generating a controllable magnetic field which controllably generates the field of curvature components in the hollow device region and in the surrounding region; and (B) field control means for controlling the magnetic field generating means to make the magnetic field locally vary the curvature components substantially antisymmetric in the surrounding region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING: Fig. 1 schematically shows a space before and after a structural change; Fig. 2 shows a volume element subjected to a pressure difference; Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a space drive propulsion device according to an embodiment of the instant invention Fig. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, of the space drive propulsion device depicted in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows the space drive propulsion device and its surrounding space for use in describing the principles of operation of the device; Figs. 6(A) through (D) exemplify flight paths of the space drive propulsion device; Fig. 7 shows the space drive propulsion device and an antisymmetric distribution of the curvature components in a surrounding space;; Fig. 8 shows the space drive propulsion device and an anti symmetric distribution of the curvature components in the surrounding space; Fig. 9 shows the space drive propulsion device and a practical distribution of the curvature components in the surrounding space; Fig. 10 shows the space drive propulsion device and a quasi-antisymmetric distribution of the curvature components in the surrounding space; Fig. 11 shows a magnetic field generating engine of the space drive propulsion device of Figs. 3 and 4 and a spherical symmetric distribution of space strain surfaces; Fig. 12 shows partly in section a side view of a magnetic field generating engine which is used in the space drive propulsion device depicted in Figs. 3 and 4;; Fig. 13 shows a magnetic field generating engine of the space drive propulsion device of Figs. 3 and 4 and an antisymmetric distribution of the space strain surfaces; Fig. 14 is a detailed diagram illustrative of a superconductor magnet depicted in Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a side view of a source magnetic field generated by a pair of superconductor magnet components illustrated in Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a side view illustrative of an intensified magnetic field into which intensified is a part of the source magnetic field depicted in Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a side view of a thrust engine for use in the space drive propulsion device illustrated in Figs.

3 and 4; Fig. 18 shows the space drive propulsion device and an anti symmetric distribution of the curvature components immediately after cut off of a magnetic field by which the symmetric distribution of curvature components was generated in the manner exemplified in Fig. 7; and Figs. 19(A) through (C) schematically show a pulsed magnetic field, a pulsed thrust generated by the pulsed magnetic field, and an acceleration produced by the pulsed thrust.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT: Before disclosing a few space drive propulsion devices according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the description will be directed to principles of this invention under a few headings identified by (A), (B), and so forth. While describing the principles, there will be provided fundamental mathematical formulae which are useful in designing such a space drive propulsion device.

(A) General A field of continuum has a value at a point represented in the field by coordinates assumed in the field. According to mechanics of continuum, a matter is acted by a gradient of the field. It is consequently possible to understand that the field of continuum is a surface force (some kind of pressure) gradient field, namely, a field of pressure gradient even though the field is not filled with a fluid.

When the pressure gradient is equal to zero, the matter is kept standstill. The matter may generate in a surrounding space a local field which is anti symmetric and unidirectional. Despite the local field, the matter is kept standstill because a balance is kept between generation by the matter of the local field and an action caused to the matter by the local field.

When the local field is cancelled by a sudden stop of its generation, the pressure gradient field does not return at once to its original state. Instead, it takes a finite interval of time for the local field to return to a state of a zero pressure gradient. In other words, the pressure gradient field has a finite strain velocity. During the finite interval, the matter is independent of the pressure gradient field and moves in accordance with the pressure gradient. If on-off of the local field is repeated at a high rate, the matter is subjected to a continuous thrust or propulsion.

When viewed from the theory of energy, generation of the local field results in accumulation of strain energy in the pressure gradient field. When the generation is suddenly suspended, the strain energy is released as kinetic energy with only a slight energy loss.

In the manner which will become clear as the description proceeds, such a pressure gradient field is implemented according to this invention by a curvature field generated by a magnetic field. It should, however, be noted that the magnetic field must be strong enough in the manner which will later be exemplified.

This principle of propulsion is derived from a theory which is related to a mechanical structure of a space and is determined by a novel understanding of the space and a geometrical nature of the space. As herein called, the "strain" is what is defined by the mechanics of continuum. In practice, the strain is generated by a curvature of the space. The curvature of the space is generated, in turn, either by the mass of matter or by the magnetic field. In the manner known in physics, the gravitational field is a strain field generated by the mass of the earth. The magnetic field is rendered equivalent to the gravitational field or a field of attraction through an intermediary of the curvature and the strain of the space.

In the manner set forth heretobefore with regard to this invention, a space drive propulsion device is present in a surrounding space in which it is possible to generate a curvature component. A magnetic energy generating engine generates in a controllable mode of generation a magnetic field which is strong enough to dynamically vary the curvature component. A controller controls the magnetic energy generating engine to locally vary the curvature component substantially antisymmetric.

Unless the curvature component is varied, the surrounding space has a zero curvature, namely, is a flat space. When the curvature component is locally varied, a curved space region is produced in the surrounding space.

In other words, a strain field is produced in the surrounding space. Transition from such a curved space to the flat space produces the thrust or propulsion.

As a consequence, it is possible to say that the thrust results as an action through medium from a pressure difference. Alternatively, it is possible to say that the thrust results from a strain field capable of producing a force which is equivalent to the gravity or attraction and consequently that the thrust results from a gravitational force.

(B) Theory of Space Strain or Mechanical Structure of Space (I) Fundamental Concepts of Space A space is an infinite continuum and has a structure described in accordance with the Riemannian geometry. When subjected to no strain, the space has only one state in which the space is a flat space. When got rid of all external physical action which gives rise to a strain, the space always returns to the flat space.

Two adjacent points in the space are always adjacent points whatever the physical action may be. The space remains as the continuum even after subjected to any change.

A curvature of the space is a purely geometric quantity. THis quantity is related to a force in compliance with concepts of a strain in terms of the mechanics of continuum. In other words, a strain field relates the geometric quantity to the force.

A local variation in the geometric quantity of the space is looked upon as presence of a strain in the space. A change in the geometrical structure is a change in a curvature component and shows a transition from a Minkowski space (the flat space) to a Riemannian space (a curved space).

A strain in the space is a sort of deformation of the space. The strain gives an action to a matter in the space. As for the strain, concepts of the mechanics of continuum are related to concepts of the Riemannian geometry by parallel displacement of a vector. When subjected to the parallel displacement in the curved space, the vector becomes a different vector depending on a path of movement. When moved along a closed curve in the curved space, the vector has no more an original value.

Being different from the space, the matter can occupy a certain region of the space. The matter is movable in the space. Moving, the matter can fill the space.

The space is continuous. Continuity of the space is conserved by the fact that the matter can not have a speed which is equal to or greater than the light velocity.

(II) Riemannian Geometry The Riemannian geometry can deal with the curved space. More specifically, the curved space is described by a four-dimensional Riemannian space with attention directed to a curvature of the space. A physical space is therefore represented as the four-dimensional Riemannian space by three space axes x, y, and z and one time axis w or ct.

In the manner which will presently be described again, a point in the space is represented by a position vector X by using the space axes and the time axis. The position vector has first through third components x x and x3 along the space axes and a zeroth component x0 along the time axis. Such component will collectively be represented by x , where i represents 1, 2, 3, and 0.

The words first through third and zeroth components will be used in connection with other vectors.

In the four-dimensional Riemannian space, attention will be directed to the point x and an adjacent point (xi + dxi). These points have an infinitesimal distance ds. Its square is given by: ds = gijdxidxj, where gij represents a metric tensor, which defines all geometric nature of the space and is a function of the position vector in general.

The Riemannian geometry starts from the metric tensor. By a combination of such metric tensors, a Riemmanian connection coefficient is defined as follows: #rij = grk(1/2) x (gjk,i gki,j - gij,k), where, for example gjk,i represents a partial derivative of a metric tensor gjk by the i-th component of the position vector. Furthermore, a Riemmanian curvature tensor is defined as follows to describe the geometry of the whole space in cooperation with the Riemannian connection coefficient:

The Riemannian space has natures as follows: (1) In the flat or not-curved space, all components of the Riemannian curvature tensor are equal to zero. In the curved space, at least one of the components is not equal to zero.If there is at least one component that is not equal to zero, the Riemmanian space is a curved space. (2) The necessary and sufficient condition for the space to be flat is that twenty components of the Riemannian curvature tensor be equal to zero. (3) In the flat space, the metric tensor is a constant, which is called a flat value or Minkowski's metric. In the curved space, the metric tensor is a function of the position vector as pointed out above.

(III) Fundamental Structure of Space Referring to Fig. 1, let it be assumed that a space region is subjected to a structural change by an external physical change, such as introduction of a matter into the space or a change in electromagnetic energy in the space, from one x depicted on the left side of a double-line arrow as the space before the structural change to another xi depicted on the right side of the double-line arrows as the space after the structural change. On each side, the space is depicted only by the space axes.

Before the structural change, a line element between these two points will be represented by: ds = gidx , where gi represents a fundamental vector. The line element is indicated in the figure by the fundamental vector. After the structural change, the line element has a different length and a different direction. This line element is indicated by: ds' = gi'dxi@, with the fundamental vector changed into gi'. Under the circumstances, the infinitesimal distances are: ds=gijdxidxj, 13 and ds' = gij'dxidxj, where gij' represents the metric tensor in the space subjected to the structural change.

It is possible to describe the structural change as a variation in a distance between two adjacent points.

The structure change therefore has an extent represented by: ds' - ds = - g.

= (gij'dxidxj - gij)dxidxj 13 13 = rijdx dxi.

13 It is now understood that a change in a geometric structure of the space is described by a difference between the metric tensors as: rij = gij' - gij.

In Fig. 1, it will be seen that a quadrilateral is depicted above the double-line arrow. Two points A and B are exemplified together with the distance in the space which is not yet subjected to the external physical action. It will be presumed that the point A is displaced by the external physical action to another point A'. Such a displacement is represented by a first displacement vector u. Similarly, it will be presumed that the point B is displaced to another point B' with a second displacement vector (u + du). An infinitesimal increment of the second displacement vector is calculated as follows: du = giui : jdxj, (2) where a notation (ui : j) represents covariant differentiation which will shortly be discussed.

Therefore: ds' = ds + du = ds + giui : jdxj. (3) 1 3 From Equations (2) and (3), a square of the line element after the structural change is calculated by: ds' 2 - ds2 = (ul : + u; i + u i uk j)dxidxj, (4) where the third term in the parentheses is the covariance differentiation having a second-order small value. It is therefore possible to neglect the third term of the displacement which is small enough.

Being defined by the following equation, the covariant differentiation is different from ordinary differentiation by an amount given in the following by the second term. The following equation is as follows: A. : . = A. . rr. pr 1 3 1,3 13 where Ar represents a first-rank tensor, namely, a vector, which should be differentiated.

In a flat space, the Riemannian connection coefficient on the righthand side of the equation of the covariant differentiation is equal to zero. -It follows therefore that the covariance differentiation is identical with the ordinary differentiation. In the curved space, the ordinary differentiation must be compensated for into the covariance differentiation. It therefore gives a generality to use the covariant differentiation on describing differentiation of a quantity in a field.

In a practical physical space, it is possible to neglect the second-order small term mentioned above in view of a trial calculation of the strain with regard to its order. As a result, Equation (4) becomes as follows: rij = ui : j + uj / : i.

On the other hand, a strain tensor is given as a concept of the strain in the mechanics of continuum as follows: eij = (l/2)rij = (1/2)(us : + u. : i) (5) 3 This equation gives the variation in the distance between the two points as follows: d5|2 ~ ds2 = (git' - gij)dxidxj = (2eijdxidxj. (6) Equation (6) shows, by the concept of the strain, a kind of deformation in the geometrical structure of the space. In other words, presence of the matter or the like transforms the metric tensor from gij to g. .' to 13 generate a field of strain tensor given by Equation (5).

(IV) Fundamental Equations of Space A concept of the parallel displacement of a vector serves as an important process of analysis, which process relates the concept of the mechanics of continuum to the concept of the Riemannian geometry as regards a deformation. By expanding the concept of parallel displacement of a vector into the Riemannian space, it is possible to derive the following equation: W = R dAki yv }iVkl where R #kl represents the Riemannian connection coefficient of the type described in connection with Equation (1). The Riemannian curvature tensor is an antisymmetric tensor in view of eup defined by Equation (-5).

The Riemannian tensor is a rotational tensor representative of rotation of a field of displacement.

The curved space gives rise, in the space region, the field of displacement on a surface of rotation.

According to the mechanics of continuum, the rotational tensor W and the strain tensor eUp satisfy the following differential equation related to a gradient component of the displacement, which component is normal to the surface of rotation. The differential equation is: W #,j = e#j, - e j,#' (7) which equation holds when the order of differentiation is reversible as in the flat space.

It is necessary in order to apply Equation (7) to a curved Riemannian space that the covariant differentiation should be used. This is rendered possible under a condition such that the following equation holds:

If this equation holds, it is possible to modify Equation (7) into: W # : j = e#j : - e y : #' (8) which equation indicates that the gradient of displacement of the rotational tensor corresponds to a difference in the gradients of the strain tensor.

When the both sides of Equation (8) are formally multiplied by a fourth-rank tensor EiixUV which defines the nature of the space, it is possible to derive the following equations:

where the fourth-rank tensor is looked upon as a constant in carrying out the covariant differentiation with a relationship between a stress (field) tensor according to the mechanics of continuum and a strain (field) tensor eml represented by: " = Eijmle 1- (11) According to a condition of equilibrium in the continuum, a body force X is related to the stress (field) tensor as follows: xi = Sij As a consequence, Equation (10) represents an increment of the body force.Using Equations (9) through (11), the increment is given by:

Equation (12) indicates generation of a space strain force by the gradient of the Riemannian curvature tensor representative of the curved space. The space strain force is a body force which acts through the space and on the matter which may fill the space.

(V) Structure of Space Curvature The Riemannian curvature tensor determines space curvatures. Such a Riemannian curvature tensor is given by Equation (1), where the Riemannian connection coefficient is already defined above Equation (1). Being composed of the metric tensors, such as 9py the Riemannian curvature tensor is also a metric tensor.

Consequently, the space has a structure determined by the metric tensor which, in turn, have a solution determined by a gravitational field equation.

A scalar curvature R, a Ricci tensor R/, and the Riemannian curvature tensor are given as follows:

When the gravitational field equation is dealt with by a matter energy tensor your the following equation is derived: RPV - (l/2)g #R - - (8TtG/c4)YPV, where G represents the gravitation constant and c, the light velocity. It is possible to expand this equation into: R # = (8#G/c4)Y #. (13) On the other hand, the matter energy tensor is given by: Y # = C#up #, where p represents a rest-mass density, each of up and representing a four-velocity used in the theory of relativity.If the matter has a speed which is smaller enough than the light velocity the four-velocity is given by: uM = uV = O along the space axes and: u0 =1 along the time axis. Therefore, the matter energy tensor has a maximum component given by: y00 = c#u0u = cp (14) when ,u and V are both equal to zero.

By substituting Equation (14) into Equation (13), it is understood that the maximum component of the matter energy tensor determines in accordance with the following equation a maximum component of a space curvature generated by the rest-mass density. The equation in question is: R00 = (8KG/c4)Y00 = (87tG/c4 )c2p = (8#G/c )p, (15) which equation indicates that the rest-mass density controls the space curvature. Similarly, a magnetic field B controls the space curvature. In other words, the space curvature is controlled either by a mass density or by the magnetic field.

In a space which can be approximated by a static and spherically symmetric Schwalzschild's space-time, the scalar curvature is given as follows: R = g&alpha;ssR&alpha;/ss = g00R g R00 + g22R + g33R g00R00 = -R00.

The Riemannian curvature tensor in the Riemannian space is related in accordance with the following equation to a Gaussian curvature K in a two-dimensional subspace included in the Riemannian space. The equation is:

The scalar curvature is related to the Gaussian curvature by: R = 2K - -R00.

Therefore, it is possible to derive from Equation (16) the following equation: K = R1212/(g11g22 - g12g12).

(VI) Control of Space Curvature by Magnetic Field An electromagnetic energy tensor Mij will now be applied to the gravitational field equation. In this event, the metric tensor is given in the following equation: R i ~ (1/2)g jR = - (8rG/C4)Mii- (17) The space has a structure determined by the electromagnetic energy according to Equation (17).By multiplication of the metric tensor, Equation (17) is modified into: R = (8TcG/c4)M. (18) From Equations (17) and (18) the following equation is derived: Rij = -(8TCG/c4)(Mij - (1/2)gijM) (19) By using an antisymmetric tensor fij representative of the magnitude of an electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic tensor is given by: Mij = -(1/ 0)(fikfik - (1/4)gijf0(&alpha;ss), (20) where: fik = gi&alpha;gkssf&alpha;ss (21) It is therefore possible to calculate the value of M used in Equations (18) and (20).

Substituting this value of M into Equation (19), the following equation is derived: Rij = -(8#G/c4)Mij. (22) The Ricci tensor has ten independent components including a major component which is for i of zero and j of zero, namely, the maximum component mentioned before in connection with Equation (15). It is therefore possible to derive from Equation (22) the following equation: 4 8#G/c4 00 R = - (8rG/c )(M ).

Meanwhile, the antisymmetric tensor is given by the relationships between the magnetic field B and an electric field in the Maxwell's electromagnetic equation as follows: f10 fol = (1/c)Ex, f20 = -f02 = (l/c)Ey, f30 f03 = (l/c)Ez, f f21 = Bz, (23) 23 32 = Bx, f31 = -fl3 = By, and f00 = fll = f22 f33 =0.

Substituting Equations (23) into Equation (20) in consideration of Equation (21), it is possible to derive the following equation: M00 = - ((l/2)#0E + (1/2 0)B2) # - (1/2/ 0)B , (24) which equation eventually turns into: = = (4#G/uoc 2 = 8.2 x 10-38B. (25) In Equations (24) and (25):jut is equal to 4E x 10 (H/m); #0, to (l/36)Tt x 10 (F/m); c, to 3 x 10 (m/s); 1011 2 and G, to 6.672 x 10 (Nm/kg ); B representing the magnetic field in Tesla and R00, a space curvature component in l/m2.

Equation (25) indicates that the space has a major space curvature component, which can be controlled by the magnetic field. It may be possible to control the major space curvature component by the electric field.

When the magnetic and the electric fields are 2.

approximately equally strong, the value of (1/2)EOE is about seventeen decimal digits smaller than the value of (1/2,uo)B . As a consequence, the electric field only negligibly contributes to the space curvature as compared with the magnetic field.

On the other hand, the following equation defines the major space curvature component which is generated by the matter energy tensor. The following equation in question is Equation (15) given before. Inasmuch as the space curvature component R00 is generated independently of the matter energy tensor or the electromagnetic energy tensor, Equation (15) becomes as follows: 4 2 R = (41#G/p0c )B = (8nG/c2 )p, which equation eventually gives: B/2po 2 pc . (26) Represented by the lefthand side of Equation (26), W represents an energy density of the magnetic field in J/m3 and is related to the rest-mass density in kg/m3in accordance with: 2 W =pc 2 which equation insures the relation E = mc between the energy and a mass.

(VII) Generation of Pressure (Surface Force) by Space Curvature The three-dimensional space has a fundamental structure which is determined by a stack of quadratic curved surfaces. Consequently, important are practical concepts of the Gaussian curvature which is determined in a two-dimensional Riemannian space by the following equation: K = (l/2)R00 - R1212(g11g22 ( g12g12).

Applying to the quadratic surfaces a membrane theory, an equilibrium condition is obtained as the following equation: N&alpha;ss b&alpha;ss + P3 = 0, (27) where: N&alpha;ss represents a membrane force, namely, a line stress; b, a second fundamental metric of the curved surfaces; and P3, a normal stress applied to the curved surfaces.

The second fundamental metric of the curved surfaces is related to a principal curvature of each curved surface and to the metric tensor by the following equations:

Comparing the latter equation with Equation (27), the following equation is derived: NdaK(i) = -P3. (28) In connection with the quadratic curved surfaces, each of a and i has two values. Therefore, Equation (28) becomes: N11k (1) + N22K (2) = -P3, where K and K represent principal curvatures of each curved surface and are inverse numbers of principal radii of curvature R1 and R2. The Gaussian curvature is given by the following equation: K=K (1) K (2) = (l/R1)(l/R2) It will be assumed that: N11 N2 = N.N.

1 2 In this event, the following equation holds: N((1/R1) + (1/R2)) = -P3.

It is now understood that the membrane force on the curved surfaces and each principal curvature generate, as a surface force, the normal stress -P3 2 (N/m) with its direction normal to the curved surfaces and with its sense directed inwardly of the curved surfaces.

A thin-layer curved surface will be taken into consideration within a spherical space having a radius of R and the principal radii of curvature which are equal to the radius. Two equations given above for the Gaussian curvature become: K = (l/R1)(1/R2) = 1/R2 R00/2 Substituting: 1/R = (R00/21/2 into Equation (28), it follows that: N((l/Rl) + (1/R2)) = N(2/R) = N(2R0 0)1/2 = p3, (29) namely: p3 = N(2R00) 1/2 (30) It is possible to assume that the membrane force N (serving as the line stress) has a constant value under a predetermined condition. Equation (30) therefore indicates that the curvature R0O generates, as described, the normal stress P3 as the surface force of the space with its sense directed inwardly of the curved surfaces.

The inwardly directed normal stress serves as a pressure field. When the curved surfaces are included a great many in number, a unidirectional pressure field is formed. The surface force of the thin-layer curved surfaces in the space, the inwardly directed normal stress of the curved surfaces, the pressure field, and (-P3 N/m) are all same thing. The field of surface force is a field of a sort of force and accelerates a matter in the space region to serve as a field of acceleration. It is understood from the foregoing that the space curvature generates the surface force and a unidirectional acceleration field in the space.

(VIII) Space Curvature and Acceleration Field As above, the space curvature generates the surface force directed inwardly of the thin-layer curved surfaces of the space. Cooperation of such thin-layer curved surfaces generates the acceleration field in the space region. It will now be surmised that the strain field is weak due to a relatively small space curvature and is static as regards time.In such an event, the following equations are derived from comparison with the Newtonian mechanics for the intensity d of the acceleration field and for the major space curvature component: i = c2 pi00 = (1/2)c2h00 : (32) and R00 = (1/2) ij' (33) 00 ii' (33) where h00 represents a deviation of the metric tensor g00 of the curved space from a Minkowski metric 400 (= -1).

The deviation is related to the metric tensor as follows: g00 = + h00 1 -l + h00 and g00 - = h00 = 2e00.

From the two equations given above, the space curvature is related to the acceleration field as follows: R = (1/2)gijh00 : ij = (l/c)gij((1/2)c2h00 : i) : = (1/c)gij&alpha;i : and R (1 .. (33) R000 = (1/c)&alpha;i / i.

and R = (l/c )o( : (33) From Equations (31) and (32), the following equation is derived: 2 di = c e00 i' e 1 00 which equation indicates that a space strain eO0 (given by a half of the deviation) generates in the acceleration field a gradient relative to the distance. It is understood that the Riemannian connection coefficient # 0O, although a geometric quantity, corresponds to a physical quantity (e00 : 1) representative of the first component of the gradient of the space strain field.

If the Schwaltzschild's space-time is static and spherically symmetric, a non-zero component of the Riemannian connection component is the third component r 300 alone, namely, a component in a direction of the radius r of the sphere of the time-space. As a consequence, the major space curvature component and a corresponding component of the acceleration are given as follows: R = (l/c )&alpha; : 3 = (l/c2)&alpha; : r and 3 = &alpha; = c # R00dr.

The latter equation indicates that the matter is subjected in the acceleration field to the acceleration which is proportional to an integral of the major space curvature component as regards the distance represented by the radius of the sphere under consideration.

According to the Newtonian mechanics, it is possible to represent the acceleration by a potential as follows: &alpha; = # : i. (34) The potential, in turn, is given by the following equation:

= GM/r. (35) From Equations (30), (34), and (35), the following equation results: = = (1/2)c h00 = GM/r, which equation gives the deviation from the Minkowski metric and, in turn, the major space curvature component as follows: h00 = 2e00 = 2GM/cr and R00 = (1/2)g33 = (1/2)h00 : rr = 2GM/c2r3 = h00/r On the other hand, the acceleration is calculated from the following equation: at = c dr = c2f(2GM/c2r3)dr = -GM/r = -(1/2)c2R00 (36) Substituting the mass and the radius of the earth, the deviation, the major space curvature component, and the acceleration have the following values on the earth's surface: h00 = 1.389 x R00 = 3 42 x 10~23 (1/m3) (37) R00 = 3.42 x 1023 (l/m ), (37) and d = 9.8 (m/s ) = 1G.

Attention will now be directed to a relationship between the major space curvature component and the acceleration field. The surface force is given by Equations (29) and (30). The major space curvature component on the earth's surface is given in Equations (37). A matter on the earth's surface is subjected to the gravitational acceleration of 1G by the field.

Despite a small value of the major space curvature component, the space curvature may be said to have a sufficiently great value because it gives rise to the gravitational acceleration. Strictly speaking, the acceleration is given by a gradient of a field of the surface force. It is, however, possible by taking a local region of a sufficiently small volume into consideration to approximately derive a correspondence between the acceleration and the surface force which generates in practice the acceleration field.

The major space curvature component is generated by the mass of the earth to give rise to the surface force which generates the acceleration field of 1G. In the manner mentioned before, the space curvature is generated also by the magnetic filed. By nature, the space curvature will give a common result irrespective of the manner in which the space curvature is generated. From Equation (25), the major space curvature component is generated as given in Equations (37) when the magnetic field has an intensity B which is as great as 20 million Tesla.

If the mass of the earth were one hundred times as great with its radius unchanged, namely, if the density of the earth were one hundred times as great, the magnetic field must have an intensity of 200 million Tesla in order to generate the acceleration of 100G.

Similarly, Table 1 is approximately obtained for various values of the major space curvature component R in l/m2, the acceleration d in 1G or 9.8 m/s2, and the intensity B of the magnetic field in Tesla.

Table 1 R00 a B 10 35 1 pico 20 10 1 micro 20 thousand 10'23 1 20 million 10 22 10 60 million 10-21 100 200 million It should be noted here that the major space curvature component is not proportional to the acceleration. In other words, the acceleration is not given by the space curvature, namely, by an extent to which the space is curved. Instead, Equation (33) indicates that a rate of change in the acceleration corresponds to the gradient of the acceleration field.

Alternatively, Equation (36) indicates that the acceleration is proportional to the integral of the major space curvature component as regards the distance in the manner described in connection with the equation which gives the third component of the acceleration. In other words, the acceleration corresponds to a volume of a curved space region. It should additionally be mentioned that comparison is described here in relation to the earth's surface and a spherical surface of a spherical shell enclosing the magnetic field. In a free space outside the earth, a strain potential satisfies the Laplace's differential equation as a density distribution function in a volume and attenuates with the distance r.

(IX) Gravity and Inertia Force Like the gravity, an inertia force is a volume force which has a magnitude proportional to the mass of a volume and uniformly distributes within the volume. It is possible to equivalently cancel the gravity. For example, circuitous fly of an airplane can momentarily generate a gravitation-less state.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a volume element has an elementary dimension uX in the direction of a pressure P.

In the manner described in a closing part of "(A) General", a pressure difference dP is necessary to subject the volume element to thrust or propulsion.

Assuming that the free space is a continuum, each of the gravity and the inertia force produces a gradient of the space strain field. The gradient generates, in turn, a gradient of a surface force field and accordingly a volume force. The inertia force is, however, different from the gravity in that the inertia force does not produce the space curvature. In other words, the space curvature is equal to zero. The inertia force therefore gives an acceleration which is constant, independent on points in the space.

In contrast, the gravity gives the acceleration as a function of the distance. More precisely, the acceleration is proportional to the gradient as regards the distance. A rate of change of the acceleration corresponds to the curvature of the space, namely, to an extent of curve to which the space is subjected.

Although the gravity and the inertia force are different with regard to presence and absence of the space curvature, each produces the gradient of the strain field and furthermore a linear strain gradient due to acceleration of a matter and has characteristics of a volume force.

(C) Principles of Propulsion Summarizing the foregoing, it is understood as follows: (1) The space strain is produced by a curved space. As a field, the stress acts on the space and matters in the space. Such a curved space is generated not only by the mass of a matter but also by a magnetic field. In the manner indicated by Equation (25), it is possible by the magnetic field to generate the major space curvature component. (2) Such a space curvature component generates in a space region around the matter a unidirectional pressure field in the manner indicated by Equation (30). (3) In the unidirectional pressure field, a matter is subjected to a pressure difference and to a displacement.Alternatively: (2') The space curvature produces an acceleration field in the curved space as indicated by Equation (36). (3') In the acceleration field of the intensity d, a matter of a mass m is accelerated by a force f = ma.

In view of the above-described principles of propulsion, a space drive propulsion device comprises a magnetic field generating engine for generating a curvature component in a surrounding space by a strong magnetic field. The space curvature component results in propulsion or thrust. The space drive propulsion device, however, does not move when the strong magnetic field is static. This is because an action of varying the space curvature component is in equilibrium with an action caused by the space strain. It is consequently necessary to cut off this equilibrium in order to actually move the space drive propulsion device. To this end, the space drive propulsion device comprises a controller for the magnetic field generating engine. When the equilibrium is cut off, the action by the magnetic field to the space is carried out slowly in a quasistatic fashion.The action by the space to the space drive propulsion device is carried out momentarily. It is important to control energy release in this manner. By way of example, a bow for an arrow is given an accumulation of elastic energy as a strain. The bow quickly gives the elastic energy to the arrow as kinetic energy.

More particularly, the controller controls a mode of generation of the strong magnetic field either in pulses or by rotation of the magnetic field at a high rate, such as 30 GHz. This gives rise to a dynamic variation in the space curvature component. By the dynamic variation in the magnetic field, the surrounding space gives a continuous propulsion to the space drive propulsion device.

As an infinite continuum, the space has a finite strain rate (the light velocity). When the magnetic field is cut off, it takes a finite interval of time for the curved space to return to the flat space. In the meantime, the space drive propulsion device is independent of the space. It is therefore possible for the device to proceed ahead in the space.

More particularly, instantaneous cut off of the magnetic field destroys the equilibrium. Being independent of the curved space, the space drive propulsion device is subjected to the action of the field during the finite interval to proceed ahead. In general, a matter can not proceed carrying, or together with, a field that is generated by the matter. In other words, the matter can not move unless the matter is independent of the field. This is because the action to the field and a reaction from the field are in a state of equilibrium. It is therefore important to give a delay to the reaction.

(D) Features of the Space Drive Propulsion Device In accordance with this invention, the space drive propulsion device has the following features: (1) The propulsion or thrust results from a body force. The space drive propulsion device and its content (including crew) are equally accelerated by the body force. No inertia force is used.

(2) The space drive propulsion device can be kept standstill in the atmosphere. It can quickly start to move and be quickly stopped. It can change its direction of proceed in right angles and fly in a zigzag fasion.

(3) For release of magnetic energy into the space, the magnetic field generating engine is installed in the space drive propulsion device. Consequently, the space drive propulsion device can be steered in the earth's atmosphere as well as in the free space.

(4) By pulse control of the magnetic field, it is possible to give the space drive propulsion device a scalar acceleration which theoretically range from zero to 100G. Slow start and slow stop are possible.

(5) According to the theory of relativity, an increase occurs in the mass of a matter as the speed of the matter approaches the light velocity. Inasmuch as the thrust is proportional to the increase in the mass, the space drive propulsion device can fly nearly at the light velocity.

(6) The magnetic energy generating engine does not generate noise and produce exhaust gas. It is unnecessary to load the space drive propulsion device with an explosive fuel.

(7) The action of propulsion influences the space drive propulsion device as well as a space region enclosing the device. In the earth's atmosphere, the space drive propulsion device moves together with the air near the device. Consequently, the device can have a high speed of several kilometers per second in the air.

This high speed enables the device to arrive at the Mars in about eleven hours from the earth. Moving together with the device, the air near the device may generate an ionized and very hot (plasma) interface region against a surrounding region of the atmosphere.

(8) The space drive propulsion device may be spherical or an ellipsoid of rotation in shape.

(9) Around the space drive propulsion device, the space is curved to provide a gravitational lens.

Consequently, it may happen that the device can not been seen by an observer on the earth.

(10) By timing on-off control of the magnetic field, the space drive propulsion device can either suck up or throw out matters below the device.

(E) Embodiments Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, attention will be directed to a space drive propulsion device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The device comprises a device shell 31 which is an ellipsoid in outline and encloses a hollow device region. It. will be assumed that the shell 31 has first through third directions predetermined parallel to three principal axes of the ellipsoid as first through third axes of an orthogonal coordinate system. It is possible to alternatively shape the device shell 31 in the form of a spheroid. It should be known that the device shell 31 is depicted in Figs. 3 and 4 in the form of a sphere despite the ellipsoid or the spheroid which is preferred as the outline of the device shell 31. This is merely for convenience of the illustration.

Within the hollow device region, first through sixth magnetic field generating engines 33(1), 33(2), 33(3), 33(4), 33(5), and 33(6) are supported to the device shell 31 preferably adjacent to an external surface of the device shell 31. As a first pair of engines 33 (suffixes omitted), the first and the fourth engines 33(1) and 33(4) are positioned on a first line which is parallel to the first direction. As a second pair of engines 33, the second and the fifth engines 33(2) and 33(5) are situated on a second line determined by the second direction. As a third pair of engines 33, the third and the sixth engines 33(3) and 33(6) are aligned in the third direction. In the manner which will become clear as the description proceeds, each pair of engines 33 need not be exactly on a line parallel to one of the first through the third directions.

A single engine controller 35 is installed in the hollow device region to individually control the engines 33 in the manner indicated by dashed lines.

Alternatively, six engine controllers are placed adjacent to the respective engines 33. In this event, it is possible to refer as a propulsion engine 37 (later illustrated) to a combination of each engine 33 (suffix omitted) and one of the six engine controllers that is used to control the engine 33 under consideration.

Each engine 33 will later be exemplified. It may be mentioned here that each engine 33 generates a strong magnetic field. In the manner which is described in the foregoing and will be described in the following, the magnetic field varies curvature components of a local field within the hollow device region and in a surrounding region around the space drive propulsion device or around the device shell 31. A field of the curvature components is a field of space strain and a field of acceleration.

In the manner which will presently be described, the engine controller 35 controls the engine 33 to vary the magnetic field and accordingly the space curvature components. In order to subject the space drive propulsion device to a thrust or propulsion, it is necessary to cut off the magnetic field and cancel the space curvature components. More particularly, the magnetic field is either switched on and off at a high frequency or put into rotation.

Each magnetic field generating engine 33 or a combination of two or more of the engines 33 is herein called a magnetic field generating arrangement. The engine controller 35 or a combination of two or more of the engine controllers is called as a magnetic field control arrangement.

Referring to Fig. 5, the space drive propulsion device is represented by the device shell 31. Only one propulsion engine 37 is depicted as a representative of such engines. This is in order to simplify the illustration and because only one propulsion device 37 may be used in making the space drive propulsion device proceed along one of the three directions in one of positive and negative senses, such as along the first direction in the positive sense.

Attention will be directed only to the magnetic field generating engine, such as the engine 33(1) described in conjunction with Figs. 3 and 4. Generated by the strong magnetic field within the hollow drive region and in an annular region that surrounds the shell 31, the curvatures of the field are illustrated by substantially parallel arcuate lines. In a forward region that is ahead the space drive propulsion device in the surrounding region, the curvatures are illustrated by parallel lines representative of parallel planes. In this manner, the forward region is the "flat space" described before. The field of curvatures are anti symmetric in a local space including the hollow drive region, the annular region, and the forward region.

Although not explicitly depicted, the arcuate lines have a higher field density near the engine 33(1) and become lower with an increase in a distance from the engine 33(1). This difference alone in the density can not give the propulsion or thrust to the space drive propulsion device.

The engine controller 35 (Figs. 3 and 4) of the propulsion engine 37 therefore controls the engine 33(1) to vary the strong magnetic field either in pulses or into the rotating magnetic field. This varies the space curvature components to generate an anti symmetric field of space strain. The space strain field produces a pressure difference (P - P') across a space difference dX. The pressure difference gives the thrust to the space drive propulsion device in the manner indicated by an arrow labelled p. This applies to each propulsion engine.

Referring to Figs. 6(A) through (D), it is consequently possible for the space drive propulsion device to start from a standstill state either vertically upwardly or downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 6(A) or obliquely upwards or downwards in a selected direction as indicated in Fig. 6(B) with one of the propulsion engines, such as 37, or a selected combination of the engines 37 put into operation. It should be noted in connection with Figs. 6(A) and (B) that the space drive propulsion device is represented by the device shell 31.

Similarly, it is possible for the space drive propulsion device to either turn its direction of flight at right angles as indicated in Fig. 6(C) or to carry out zigzag turns in the manner indicated in Fig. 6(D) by switching operation of the magnetic field generating engines 33. In Figs. 6(C) and (D), the space drive propulsion device is indicated by dots along its path of flight.

For example, horizontal left turn at the right angle from the first direction to the second direction is possible as follows. It is presumed merely for simplicity of the description that the first and the fourth engines 33(1) and 33(4) (Figs. 3 and 4) are installed in the hollow device region exactly in the first direction. The second and the fifth engines 33(2) and 33(5) are precisely in the second direction. Left and right are mentioned with respect to a person whose eyes or lines of vision are parallel to a plane defined by the first and the second directions. First, the first engine 33(1) is put into operation with an acceleration 2 of 100G, namely, about 1 km/s , during one second. After lapse of one second, the first engine 33(1) is stopped.

The space drive propulsion device proceeds with a constant velocity in the first direction. In the meantime, the fourth engine 33(4) is similarly put into operation. In one second, the space drive propulsion device stops. Subsequently, the second engine 33(2) is likewise put into operation. The space drive propulsion device is given another constant speed in the second direction with the left turn. Throughout operation of such engines, the third engine 33(3) is kept in operation if the space drive propulsion device is in an atmospheric space of the earth.

Principles of propulsion of the space drive propulsion device will again be described from a practical point of view. In the atmospheric space near the earth's surface, a body is subjected to free fall.

This primarily results from a strain field generated by a curved space. Presence of the earth distorts the atmospheric space into the curved space. It is therefore possible to understand that the earth only indirectly contributes to the free fall.

When subjected to the free fall, the body moves towards the center of the earth. This is because the curved space has a center of curvature at the center of the earth. It should be noted in this connection that the curved space and the body are independent of each other and have no interaction. As an experiment in thought, let is be assumed that a curved space alone is present in a free space. In the curved space, the body is subjected to a like movement even in the absence of the earth. As another experiment in thought, revolution of the earth around the center of the Sun will be taken into consideration. The revolution is due to a curved space having the center of curvature at the Sun's center.

It will now be assumed that the Sun has suddenly disappeared or vanished. It takes 8 minutes 32 seconds until the curved space disappears at the earth.

Meanwhile, the revolution continues around the center of curvature.

In a surrounding region of the space drive propulsion device, each magnetic field generating engine 33 generates a like curved space. Primarily, the engine controller 35 suddenly cancels action which is caused by the engine 33 to generate the curved space. This provides the thrust for the space drive propulsion device. In an instantaneous transition interval in which the curved space disappears and returns to the flat space, the curved space is independent of the space drive propulsion device. No interaction is present between the curved space and the space drive propulsion device. In a space region of the curved space, the acceleration is produced in accordance with Equation (36).

Referring now to Fig. 7, it will be assumed that the curved space has a constant major curvature component R00 in a space region having a region length (b - a) or S normal to spherical surfaces representative of the curved space. The curved space provides a field of acceleration o( given by the following equation: > c2R00(b - a) = c2R00S, where the space curvature is generated either by a mass density p or by a magnetic field B according to: 2 R00 = (8itG/c )p = (4wG/u0c )B2. (38) It is impossible in practice for a matter to disappear. Off control of the magnetic field is, however, readily possible and is equivalent to disappearance of a matter.

Referring to Fig. 8, the hollow device region and the surrounding region are optimally given curvature components in the manner exemplified. More particularly, a combination of the hollow device region, the annular region, and a rearward region of the space drive propulsion device is called an A region. The forward region is called an A' region. The A' region is a flat local space where the major curvature component is equal to zero. In the A region, the curvature is not constant but has a density difference. In other words, the curvature component is not equal to zero. The acceleration CC is therefore produced as above.

Turning to Fig. 9, the curvature surfaces or space strain surfaces may be spherically symmetric in practice around a center of the space drive propulsion device both in the A and the A' regions. Within a finite interval of time in which the space drive propulsion device is subjected to the thrust given by the acceleration field generated in the A region, the curved space in the A' region returns to the flat space as will shortly be detailed. Consequently, the space drive propulsion device is not subjected to the thrust by a field of acceleration produced in the A' region.

In general, the field of acceleration gives the space drive propulsion device a volume force which is equivalent to the gravity and serves as the thrust. In other words, the thrust is proportional to the mass of a volume element present in the acceleration field.

Whereas, the space drive propulsion device has no mass in the A' region. It is consequently clear that the A' region does not counteract with the thrust which results from the A region.

Further turning to Fig. 10, the strong magnetic field may produce in practice a strain field of a nominal value in the A region and another field of weaker strain in the A' region as indicated by dashed-line semicircles.

In other words, the curvature component is greater in the A region than in the A'region. In such an event, it is herein said that the curvature component in the A region is quasi-antisymmetric relative to the curvature component in the A' region. Such a quasi-antisymmetric field is generated by making the strong magnetic field have a controlled distribution.

More specifically, a notation B will be used to represent the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating engine 33 in the A region with the controlled distribution. Another notation B' will be used to represent the magnetic field generated by the engine 33 in the A' region. Under the circumstances, the major curvature component of the space is given by Equation (25) in the A region. The major component is given as follows in the A' region: R00' = (4#G/ 0c4)B'2.

It will be assumed that the magnetic field B' in the A' region is controlled to be from 1/10 to 1/40 of the magnetic field B in the A region. With this control, the major curvature component R00' in the A' region becomes 1/100 to 1/1600 of the major curvature component R00 in the A region. In other words, the major curvature component is negligibly small in the A' region. It is consequently possible by the controlled distribution to provide the quasi-antisymmetric field.

The space curvature results in the A region in the acceleration given by: 2 00 a = c R S.

In the manner described above, the space drive propulsion device has no mass in the A' region. Regardless of presence and absence of the mass, the space curvature results in the A' region in an acceleration given by: = = c2R001 S.

As a consequence, the acceleration is negligibly small in the A' region as compared with the acceleration in the A region. The space drive propulsion device can therefore proceed in the quasi-antisymmetric field of the space curvature component.

Let a notation t represent a time interval during which the curved space returns to the flat space. The space strain propagates with the light velocity. The time interval is therefore equal to l/c and is constant.

Propulsion of the space drive propulsion device in the quasi-antisymmetric field of space curvature component will now be discussed from a different point of view. After accelerated in the A region, the space drive propulsion device proceeds into the A' region.

Meanwhile, the curved space in the A' region returns to the flat space. The acceleration in the A' region becomes equal to zero. Further differently speaking, the space drive propulsion device has its mass m mainly in the A region in the meantime and is subjected to the thrust given by: f(A) = mod.

In contrast, the space drive propulsion device has not yet its mass appreciably in the A' region and is subjected to a thrust given by: f(A') - 0 x > '.

It is accordingly possible to understand that the thrust is given to the space drive propulsion device by the A' region to only infinitesimally counteract with the thrust given by the A region.

Referring to Fig. 11, attention will now be directed to one of the magnetic field generating engines 33. As depicted, the engine 33 is spherical in outline.

The engine 33 gives its surrounding space a space curvature which is spherically symmetric in the manner depicted by concentric circles and is given by Equation (25). The space curvature generates a field of unidirectional surface force in the manner discussed before under the heading (B) (VII).

Turning to Fig. 12 during a short while, the magnetic field generating device comprises in principle a main superconductor magnet 41 and an auxiliary superconductor magnet 43 in antiparallel in a hollow shell space enclosed with a spherical shell 45 of a perfect diamagnetic superconductive material which may be whichever of known materials and is a superconductive material. The spherical shell 45 is used in order to restrict, within the shell 45, the magnetic field generated by cooperation of the main and the auxiliary superconductor magnets 41 and 43 as a composite magnetic field in the manner which will presently be described.

As described, the magnetic field generating engine 33 generates a field of space strain alone in spherical symmetry in the surrounding space as depicted in Fig. 11.

The magnets 41 and 43 should by concept be superconductor magnets so as to be capable of generating in cooperation the composite magnetic field with as strong an intensity as 20 million Tesla.

The main superconductor magnet 41 generates a spherically symmetric main magnetic field B1. Within a hemisphere of the main magnetic field, the auxiliary superconductive magnet 43 generates an auxiliary magnetic field B2.

In order to more particularly describe the main and the auxiliary magnetic fields, an engine line will be assumed to pass through'a center of the hollow shell space and a center of the hollow device region at which the coordinate system has a coordinate origin. The main superconductor magnet 41 is directed perpendicularly of the engine line to divide the engine line into first and second line segments which are farther from and nearer to the coordinate origin. The second superconductor magnet 43 intersects with the first line segment. The auxiliary magnetic field should substantially cancel the main magnetic field at an intersection of the engine line with the device shell 31.

Furthermore, each of the main and the auxiliary magnetic field is a pulsed magnetic field having a controllable pulse repetition frequency.

Turning back to Fig. 11 and referring afresh to Fig. 13, the magnetic field generating engine 33 receives from the field of space strain the surface force directed to its center. If the space strain field is spherically symmetric as depicted in Fig. 11, the engine 33 is not movable although a matter, if present in the surrounding space, moves towards the center of the engine 33. The auxiliary superconductor magnet 43 carries out a direction control of the composite magnetic field so as to make the composite magnetic field generate an anti symmetric field of the space curvature in the manner exemplified in Fig. 13.

More specifically, the major curvature component 00 R should not be equal to zero in order to provide a curved space as depicted by concentric semi circles on one side of a plane which passes through the center of the engine 33. On the other side of the plane, the major curvature component is substantially equal to zero to provide a substantially flat space in the manner illustrated by parallel lines. When the engine 33 is supported by the shell 31 of the space drive propulsion device adjacent to its external surface, the engine 33 generates the antisymmetric field of space curvature, namely, of unidirectional space strain within the hollow device region and in the surrounding region in the manner described in conjunction with Fig. 8.The on-off control of the composite magnetic field makes the anti symmetric field give the thrust to the space drive propulsion device. It is described above that the quasi-antisymmetric field serves alike.

Incidentally, the composite magnetic field of the main and the auxiliary magnetic fields B1 and B2 is given by a vector sum of the magnetic fields. On the other hand, a magnetic field of a magnitude B has ah intensity which is equal to B times B, namely, to a square of an absolute value of the magnitude. Consequently, the composite magnetic field of a composite magnitude B(c) has a composite intensity given by: B(c)2 = IB(C)I2 = I B1 + B2 2 = IB1 B1| 2 + 1 + +21 Bl| 2 + B2| cos8, where 6 represent an angle formed between the main and the auxiliary magnetic fields.

When the main and the auxiliary magnetic fields have a common magnitude and are antiparallel, the composite magnetic field has a zero intensity. The flat space is generated in this manner in the A' region of Fig. 8 by the magnetic field generating engine 33. If the main and the auxiliary magnetic fields has the common magnitude, the composite intensity is equal to 4B2, where B represents the common magnitude.

Referring now to Fig. 14, it is possible to implement each of the main and the auxiliary superconductor magnets 41 and 43 (Fig. 12) of the magnetic field generating engine 33 together with one of the engine controllers, such as 35 (Figs. 3 and 4) that cooperates with the magnetic field generating engine 33 in question as the propulsion engine 37 as follows.

Within the spherical shell 45 described in conjunction with Fig. 12, a liquid metal reservoir 47 contains a liquid metal, typically liquid sodium, that serves as an electrically conductive fluid. Through a nozzle 49, a controllable circulating pump 51 makes the liquid metal reservoir 47 inject the electrically conductive fluid into a hollow blanket space enclosed with a blanket 53 either as fluid particles of atomized fluid or as the fluid as it is.

First and second superconductor magnet components 55 and 57 are attached to the blanket 53 to generate a source or seed magnetic field 59 (presently illustrated) in the hollow blanket space. Each of the superconductor magnet components 55 and 57 is an electromagnet.

Consequently, the first superconductor magnet component 55 is supplied with a first exciting current through leads 61 and 63. Through leads 65 and 67, the second superconductor magnet component 57 is supplied with a second exciting current which is preferably a continuation of the first exciting current. It is therefore possible to say that the first and the second superconductor magnet components 55 and 57 are excited by a common exciting current.

In the manner indicated by parallel lines, each with an arrowhead directed from the first superconductor magnet component 55 to the second superconductor magnet 57, the source magnetic field 59 has a field axis and a local volume which are present centrally in the hollow blanket space and will shortly be depicted. The source magnetic field is a pulsed magnet field having the above-described pulse repetition frequency. Accordingly, the common exciting current is a pulsed exciting current having the pulse repetition frequency.

An exhaust pump 69 exhausts the fluid particles from the hollow blanket space as an exhausted metal towards the reservoir 47 through the circulating pump 51.

The fluid particles therefore pass through the local volume as depicted by irregular dots. In the manner which will become clear as the description proceeds, the fluid particles collectively serve as a conductive quencher for quenching the source magnetic field thereto to locally provide a quenched field of magnetism. A combination of the reservoir 47, the nozzle 49, the circulating pump 51, and the exhaust pump 69 therefore serves as a quencher circulating arrangement for circulating the conductive quencher through the local volume.

A laser beam source 71 is attached to the blanket 53 to direct a laser beam towards the quenched field perpendicularly of the field axis. The laser beam is pulsed at a beam repetition frequency of, for example, 6 MHz. The laser beam source 71 is therefore supplied with a pulsed exciting current through a pair of leads which is depicted as a single lead 73 merely for simplicity of illustration. In the manner known in the art, the laser beam is directed to the quenched field along a plane which is perpendicular to the field axis. It is possible for this purpose to use a plurality of laser beam sources in cooperatively producing the laser beam.

The laser beam has a beam intensity which is controllable azimuthally of the field axis. The laser beam source 71 or a combination of two or more laser beam sources therefore serves as an irradiating arrangement for irradiating the quenched field by the laser beam.

In Fig. 14, it will be assumed that the source magnetic field 59 has an intensity of 50 Tesla. This intensity is practically available by a present-day superconductor magnet. In the manner described in the following, the laser beam is capable of intensifying the source magnetic field 59 to an intensified magnetic field of 500 thousand Tesla.

Turning to Fig. 15, the source magnetic field is illustrated at 59 and is a field of magnetic flux of a uniform initial flux density B(g). The local volume is indicated as an initial sphere by a dashed-line circle and has an initial radius r(g). The conductive quencher is illustrated again by irregular dots. In the local volume, the source magnetic field 59 is quenched or frozen to the quencher. The local volume will be taken into consideration together with quench of the source magnetic field.

Further turning temporarily to Fig. 16, the laser beam is illustrated as first and second sections 75 and 77. As a result of the quench and an influence of the laser beam, the source magnetic field 59 (Fig. 15) is intensified into the intensified magnetic field in an intensified volume which is smaller than the local volume. The intensified volume is represented as an intensified sphere by a dashed-line circle.

Turning back to Fig. 14 with Figs. 15 and 16 continuously referred to, quench of a magnetic flux is alternatively called quench of a magnetic field, such as the source magnetic field 59, and is a phenomenon such that a magnetic flux or a flux of magnetic lines of force tends to move together with a mass or volume of an electrically conductive material when the mass or volume moves in a magnetic field. Theoretically, the quench is explained as follows.

A relative movement will be surmised between the mass or volume and the magnetic field. The relative movement gives rise to electromagnetic induction to induce an induced current in the mass or volume. A result of interaction between the induced current and the magnetic field tends to cancel the relative movement. It therefore looks as if the magnetic flux or the magnetic field adheres to the electrically conductive fluid to move altogether. Adhering to, namely, quenched to the conductive quencher, the magnetic flux is either deformed or intensified by movement of the quencher.

This phenomenon of quench is already used as a hypothesis for explaining the magnetic field which a celestial body has as a "fossil". More specifically, a celestial body is borne as a result of condensation of interstellar gas. If quenched to the interstellar gas, a magnetic field is intensified with the condensation so that the celestial body has a poloidal magnetic field.

By calculation, the poloidal magnetic field of a neutron star has an intensity of about 500 million Tesla. This calculation well matches with a result of observation.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 16, the conductive quencher is subjected to light pressure of the laser beam shown as the sections 75 and 77 and is concentrated. In addition, the quencher is heated by the laser beam adjacent their circumferential surface to eject plasma. Subjected to the light pressure and reacted by ejection of the plasma, the quencher is very quickly concentrated to be subjected to what is called explosive flux concentration. By cooperation of the light pressure and reaction of ejection of the plasma, an ablation pressure is applied to the quencher.

Consequently, the initial spherical volume is pressed down into an intensified spherical volume which is depicted in Fig. 15 by the dashed-line circle and has an intensified radius r(s).

Quenched to the conductive quencher, the source magnetic field 59 is quickly squeezed into a poloidal magnetic field to have a reduced cross-sectional area S through which the magnetic flux of the poloidal magnetic field passes with its magnetic flux + conserved. Within the intensified volume, the poloidal magnetic field has an intensity which is equal to 0/S. When the cross-sectional area is very narrow, the source magnetic field 59 is much intensified. Incidentally, it is unnecessary to use an arrangement illustrated for use as the auxiliary superconductor magnet 43 (Fig. 12) with reference to Fig. 14 if the laser beam sections 75 and 77 are given different power densities.

If the light pressure of u (N/m2) should be attained, the laser beam should have a power density S(W/m2) given by: S = uc, where c represents the light velocity. When the local volume is condensed to the intensified volume with the cross-sectional area reduced by an area ratio of l/r, the power density is much reduced into: S = uc/r.

The laser beam has the power density of from 1017 1018 W/cm2 2 to 10 W/cm . If the radius of the initial volume is reduced to that of the intensified volume by one to one thousand, the area ratio is equal to 106. When the power density of the laser beam is 1018 W/cm2 or 1022 W/m2, the light pressure is as high as 3 x 1013 Pa or 300 million atmospheres. When the area ratio is taken into consideration, the conductive quencher is subjected to a pressure of 30 trillion atmospheres together with the magnetic flux quenched thereto. It is consequently possible to intensify or condense the source magnetic field of 50 Tesla to the intensified magnetic field of 500 thousand Tesla. Incidentally, this intensified magnetic field provides a magnetic pressure of 10 trillion atmospheres.

Intensification or condensation of the magnetic field proceeds until the light pressure of the laser beam reaches a state of equilibrium with the magnetic pressure. When the laser beam is stopped, the conductive quencher tends to explosively expand. At this moment, the superconductor magnet components 55 and 57 are demagnetized. Released from the quenching magnetic flux by demagnetization of the magnet components 55 and 57, the conductive quencher is exhausted by the exhaust pump 69.

The strong magnetic field is generated as the intensified magnetic field as above. The intensity of the magnetic field depends on the power density S of the laser beam and on the area ratio r. With the above-described processes counted as one cycle of generation of the strong magnetic field, the strong magnetic field is generated in a pulsed manner at a frequency of several kilocycles per second. This would be most practical manner of generating the strong magnetic field at present.

Reviewing the foregoing, efficiency of the magnetic field generating engine 33 will be taken into consideration. In the engine 33, energy is converted from electric power supply energy P(we) to superconductor magnetic field energy P(mag), to space curvature R00, and to space strain energy U(strain). On providing the thrust or propulsion, the space strain energy is released as engine output power energy P(wr). It is possible to understand release of the space strain energy as a three-term sum of effective thrust energy E(eff), loss thrust energy E(los), and radiation energy E(rad).

Efficiencies in such conversion stages are as follows: # (e) = E(mag)/E(we), # (m) = U(strain)(E(wr))/E(mag), X(i) = (e) x71(m), # (p) = E(eff)/U(strain)(E(wr)) = E(eff)/(E(eff) + E(los) + E(rad)), where (i) represents internal efficiency, t(p) representing propulsion efficiency.

Overall efficiency # of the engine 33 is given by a ratio of the effective thrust energy to the power supply energy. Consequently: # = t(i) x W(p) = r(e) x (m) x71(p).

The space strain energy, namely, the engine output energy, is given as follows: U(strain)

where V(1) represents the volume of the space drive propulsion device, V(2) representing the volume of a finite region around the device.

The three-term sum is as follows: 2 (1/2)p(l)V(l)v + (1/2)p(2)V(2)v2 + (hV(l) + hV(2) + ... + h2(n)), where p(l) represents an average density of the space drive propulsion device, p(2) representing the density of the finite region, v representing the speed of the device in m/s, h representing Plahk constant, p(1) and so forth representing frequencies of the radiation energy. If the device is in an atmospheric space of a celestial body, p(2) is equal to the density of the atmosphere.

It is mentioned above that the thrust results from the volume force. Consequently, the finite region, such as air in the finite region, is given the acceleration. This acceleration results in the loss thrust energy. It is believed that a part of the space strain energy is converted into the radiation energy.

The overall efficiency will be reviewed from a viewpoint of power, namely, work per unit time. The overall efficiency is given by: 2? = (fVv)/(REIr), where f represents the magnitude of the volume force in 3 N/m , V representing a sum of V(1) and V(2), V representing here the cycles of excitation of the engine 33, E and I representing the voltage (in V) and the current (in A) used in exciting the superconductor magnets 55 and 57, I representing here a pulse width of the current I in sec.

It is understood from the equation given above that the space drive propulsion device is given the thrust which depends on the power EI used in exciting the superconductor magnets. Control of the electric current I of excitation makes it possible to contrdl the thrust.

The device is given a speed variable with the number of cycles of engine excitation. After all, the engine controller 35 controls the pulse repetition frequency of the magnetic field or fields to control on-off of such a magnetic field. As described above, a substantially anti symmetric field of curvature components is generated either by a combination of the main and the auxiliary magnetic fields or by a controlled density distribution in the laser beam. The thrust or propulsion is generated by on-off control of the magnetic field.

The laser beam source 71 is preferably an organic dye laser with forced mode synchronization. This is because this laser is capable of generating a high-density laser beam with the pulse repetition frequency selected between several MHz and several GHz.

It is possible to mechanically and electrically control injection of the conductive quencher into the hollow blanket space of the blanket 53 and the azimuthal beam density of the laser beam, such as the beam sections 75 and 77. This enables to put the thrust engine 37 in continuous operation at the pulse repetition frequency selected between several kHz and several tens of MHz.

Incidentally, it is unnecessary on intensifying the source magnetic field 59 into the intensified magnetic field to use a liner or a like structure. The strong magnetic field gives rise to no damage to such a structure.

In the space drive propulsion device thus far described, the engine controller 35 comprises for each magnetic field generating engine 33 a period control arrangement and an intensity control arrangement. It is possible to understand that the period control arrangement for the pulsed laser beam is depicted as a combination of the leads 61, 63, 65, and 67. For the laser beam, the period control arrangement is exemplified by the lead 73. The intensity control arrangement is depicted as a combination of the sections 75and 77 of the laser beam.

Initial intensity of the source magnetic field 59 and intensification of the source magnetic field into the intensified magnetic field are controllable.

Consequently, it is not mandatory to make the six magnetic field generating engines 33 should generate the curvature components of a common density adjacent to the respective engines 33.

For generation of the magnetic field, an electric power source is necessary either for each of the superconductor magnet components 55 and 57 or for such superconductor magnet components of the six magnetic field generating engines 33. The power source is preferably a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generator, which is compact and capable of generating a high power and for which use is made as a heat reservoir of an antiparticle annihilation reactor (a reactor in which pair annihilation of a proton and an antiproton is used).

Referring to Fig. 17, two of the six thrust engines, such as the thrust engine 37 described in conjunction with Figs. 3 to 5, are combined into a -thrust engine combination 79. The two thrust engines are indicated by small and great spheres. The thrust engine combination 79 therefore has a combination axis through the two thrust engines.

It is not serious to determine a distance between the two thrust engines and to determine the curvature components which each of the two thrust engines should generate adjacent thereto. Three such combinations are disposed in the hollow device region at vertices of a regular triangle with their combination axes directed parallel. Alternatively, four such combinations may be similarly arranged at vertices of a square. The manner of such arrangements is not critical.

Nominal ratings for the space drive propulsion device are listed in Table 2 below.

Table 2 Acceleration: Variable between zero and 100 gravitational acceleration. As small as 1 -6 gravitational acceleration is possible.

Ultimate Speed: Approximately equal to the light velocity.

Continuously Operable: With no limitation.

Thrust: Given by an action through medium (space drive).

Thrust Control: Control of a magnetic field generated by superconductivity (maximum magnetic field being 80 billion Tesla).

Referring afresh to Fig. 18 and again to Fig. 8, the foregoing may be summarized as follows. In Fig. 18, the space drive propulsion device is again represented by the device shell 31 and either the six thrust engines or the three or the four thrust engine combinations, by a thrust engine 37. After the magnetic field is cut off, the curved space returns to the flat space. Meanwhile, the thrust is given to the space drive propulsion device, which proceeds into the flat space as depicted.

The fundamental mathematical formulae are as follows: The major curvature component is given by Equation (25). The acceleration is given by Equation (36). The integral is between a and b depicted in Fig. 8 and is equal to c2R00S with an assumption such that the major curvature component is constant in a space length of S which is equal to (b - a). The space drive propulsion device is subjected to a net acceleration given by: (l/2)o(tp, where t represents a pulse width of each thrust pulse, P representing the repetition frequency of the thrust pulses in Hz. The pulse width should be equal to L/c, where L represents a device length of the space drive propulsion device in the direction of the thrust.The repetition frequency is equal to an inverse number of a three-term sum of S/c, the pulse width of each thrust pulse, and a zero-acceleration time interval which will presently be described. The space drive propulsion device proceeds with a speed which is equal to a product of the net acceleration and a time interval during which the engine 33 is kept in operation. The space drive propulsion device is given the thrust equal to a product of its total mass and the net acceleration and is given a power (work by unit time) equal to the magnitude of the thrust and the speed. The space drive propulsion device has an efficiency of thrust which is equal to a quotient of the power given thereto by the electric power supplied to the engines 33.

Each pulse of the laser beam will now be called an inertia keeping pulse. Laser energy is given per each inertia keeping pulse in J as follows: S = where E represents the laser energy per each thrust pulse, k representing the number of inertia keeping pulses per second. Power density of the laser beam is given in W/m2 as follows: 5D = BS/(tLA), where tL represents the time interval in second of 2 irradiation of an area A (in m ) by the laser beam.

Light pressure of the laser beam is given in Pa as follows: u=SD = (eX 2), where X represents a radius ratio of the initial radius of the initial sphere to the intensified radius of the intensified sphere and is sufficiently smaller than unity. Power is supplied to the engine 33 per second as follows in W: E = where N represents the repetition frequency of the thrust pulses. The magnetic pressure is given in Pa as follows: Pu = B /2luo.

Referring to Figs. 19 (A), (B), and (C), it will be assumed that the magnetic field is a rectangular-pulse field exemplified along a first or top row labelled (A).

Each time when the magnetic field is cut off, a thrust pulse is produced in the manner depicted along a second or middle row labelled (B). Such thrust pulses give an acceleration to the space drive propulsion device as illustrated along a third or bottom row labelled (C).

The acceleration increases from zero at a leading edge of each rectangular pulse of the magnetic field, reaches a maximum value at a trailing edge of the rectangular pulse, namely, at a leading edge of a thrust pulse, returns to zero at a trailing edge of the thrust pulse, and is kept at zero until rise up of a next following rectangular pulse of the magnetic field.

When first through third time intervals of growing up of the acceleration from zero to the maximum value, falling down of the acceleration from the maximum value to zero, and keeping of the acceleration at zero are represented by t(l), t(2), and t(3), the repetition frequency is equal to one by the above-mentioned three-term sum of t(l), t(2), and t(3). Each thrust pulse has a pulse width of t(2), which is equal to L/c as described above.

It will now be assumed that a space drive propulsion device has the device length L of 15 m and generates a curved space of the space length S of 45 m.

Although study is in progress, it is intended that the superconductor magnet 41 of Fig. 14 is operable as follows. The pulse width of each thrust pulse is 50 ns long. The first time interval is 150 ns long and the third time interval, equal to zero. The second time interval is equal to the pulse width. The repetition frequency is equal to 6.7 MHz. The major curvature component would be equal to 5.3 x 10 6 1/m . The acceleration would be equal to 2146 m/s2, namely, 219 times the gravitational acceleration. The net acceleration would be equal to thirty-six times the gravitational acceleration.

The laser energy may be 10 MJ per one thrust pulse. The number of inertia keeping pulses per second may be ten. The time interval of irradiation of an area 2 of 0.0314 cm may be 0.1 ps. The radius ratio may be equal to 0.2 x 10 . Under the circumstances, the laser power density is equal to 3.2 W/m2. The light pressure of the laser beam would be equal to 2.7 x 1027 Pa. This value is approximately equal to the magnetic pressure.

The superconductor magnet 41 needs the power supply energy of 67 TW.

The space drive propulsion device is given a controlled acceleration and thrust by control of the repetition frequency of the thrust pulses. If the net acceleration of one gravitational acceleration should be given to a space drive propulsion device having the device length of 5 m with the curved space generated by a magnetic field of 80 billion Tesla in a space length of 5 m with the major curvature component of 5.3 x 10 16 1/m2, the pulse repetition frequency may be equal to 4.9 MHz (the first through the third time intervals being equal to 17 ns, 17 ns, and 170 ns). The acceleration would be equal to twenty-four times the gravitational acceleration. The power consumption would be equal to 4.9 TW.

Claims (6)

1. A space drive propulsion device enclosing a hollow device region of a space and surrounded by a surrounding region of said space, said space being capable of having a field of curvature components, said device comprising: magnetic field generating means for generating a controllable magnetic field which co.ntrollably generates said field of curvature components in said hollow device region and in said surrounding region; and field control means for controlling said magnetic field generating means to make said magnetic field locally vary said curvature components substantially antisymmetric in said surrounding region.

2. A space drive propulsion device as claimed in Claim 1, said space drive propulsion device defining first through third axes of an orthogonal coordinate system, wherein: said magnetic field generating means comprises a plurality of magnetic field generating engines in predetermined relationships to said first through said third axes; each of said magnetic field generating engines comprising:: a spherical shell of a superconductive material enclosing a hollow shell space; (Claim 2 continued) at least one controllable superconductor magnet in said hollow shell space to generate a pulsed magnetic field with a controllable pulse repetition frequency as at least a part of said controllable magnetic field; said fieid control means individually controlling the superconductor magnets of said magnetic field generating engines to control the repetition frequency of the pulsed magnetic field generated by at least one of said superconductor magnets and to locally vary said curvature components substantially antisymmetric in said surrounding region.

3. A space drive propulsion device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein: each of said superconductor magnets comprises in said hollow shell space: a blanket enclosing a hollow blanket space; a pair of superconductor magnet components excited by an exciting current variable with said repetition frequency to generate a source magnetic field having a field axis and a local volume in said hollow blanket space when excited; quencher circulating means for circulating a conductive quencher through said local volume to make said quencher quench said source magnetic field thereto in said local volume and to locally provide a quenched field; and (Claim 3 continued) irradiating means for irradiating said quenched field by a laser beam perpendicularly of said field axis to make said quenched field have an intensified volume which is smaller than said local volume, said laser beam having a controllable beam intensity azimuthally around said field axis; said field control means comprising: period varying means for varying the repetition frequency of said exciting current to vary the repetition period of the pulsed magnetic field generated by one of said superconductor magnets; and intensity varying means for varying said beam intensity to provide a stronger beam intensity and a weaker beam intensity along a straight line included in said laser beam on one and the other sides of said field axis and to locally vary said curvature components substantially antisymmetric in said surrounding space.

4. A space drive propulsion device as claimed in Claim 1, said space drive propulsion device comprising a device shell enclosing said hollow device region and defining first through third axes of an orthogonal coordinate system having a coordinate origin substantially at a center of said hollow device region, wherein: said magnetic field generating means comprises a plurality of magnetic field generating engines in predetermined relationships to said first through said (Claim 4 continued) third axes; each of said magnetic field generating engines defining an engine line reaching said coordinate origin and comprising:: a spherical shell of a superconductive material enclosing a hollow shell space; a main superconductor magnet directed in said hollow shell space perpendicularly of said engine line to divide said engine line into first and second line segments farther from and nearer to said coordinate origin and generating a main magnetic field in said hollow shell space; and an auxiliary supercondUctor magnet disposed in said hollow shell space antiparallel to said main superconductor magnet to intersect said first line segment and generating an auxiliary magnetic field which cancels said main magnetic field at an intersection of said engine line with said device shell; each of said main and said auxiliary magnetic field being a pulsed magnetic field having a controllable pulse repetition frequency; said field control means individually controlling combinations of the main the auxiliary superconductor magnets of said magnetic field generating engines to control the repetition frequency of at least one of said combinations

5.A space drive propulsion device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein: each of said main and said auxiliary superconductor magnets comprises in said hollow shell space: a blanket enclosing a hollow blanket space; a pair of superconductor magnet components excited by an exditing current variable with said repetition frequency to generate a source magnetic field having a local volume in said hollow blanket space when excited; quencher circulating means for circulating a conductive quencher through said local volume to make said quencher quench said source magnetic field thereto in said local volume and to locally provide a quenched field; and irradiating means for irradiating said quenched field by a laser beam perpendicularly of said field axis to make said quenched field have an intensified volume which is smaller than said local volume, said laser beam having a uniform beam intensity around said field axis; said field control means comprising: period varying means for varying the repetition frequency of said exciting current to vary the repetition frequency of the pulsed magnetic field generated by each of the superconductor magnets used in said at least one of the combinations; and (Claim 5 continued) intensity control means for on-off controlling said common intensity.

6. A space drive propulsion device as claimed in claim 1 including an arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to any one of Figs. 3 to 19 of the accompanying drawings.