RU2182260C2 - Method for starting nuclear rocket engines based on resonant-dynamic fission and fusion reactions - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

 The invention relates to rocket and nuclear technology and is intended to launch nuclear rocket engines based on the reactions of resonant-dynamic (RD) fission of fissile material with additional fusion neutrons.

 It can be used to launch nuclear rocket engines based on resonant reactions (patent 2064086 dated November 4, 1993) or non-resonant fission, as well as thermonuclear reactions.

 The prototype is a method of creating a jet propulsion of a nuclear rocket engine (patent 2064086 dated November 4, 1993).

 The disadvantage of the prototype is that it does not show how, at the initial time, the firing of fission and synthesis reactions will be initiated. The generally accepted launch of nuclear reactions through an additional powerful neutron source is also problematic, since it will be difficult for neutrons of an additional source to get into the reactor core (AZ) due to the large thickness of the moderator, so most of them will not fall into it at all. In addition, neutrons interact only with fissile material and have no effect on the initiation of fusion reactions, therefore, an additional load is imposed on the neutron source to initiate a thermonuclear fusion reaction through a fission reaction.

 The technical task of the present invention is to launch the joint occurrence of reactions of RD fission and thermonuclear fusion through the use of high-energy protons (VP) accelerated to energies of hundreds to thousands of MeV.

 The possibility of using VP to initiate fission and fusion reactions is based on the fact that, first, VP, like neutrons, share fissile material [1,2], and given that they will be introduced directly into the AZ of the reactor, fission neutrons from birth will be in it. Secondly, in addition to fission neutrons, VPs will knock out neutrons due to inelastic interactions with fission and fusion nuclei, and, in addition, generate so-called evaporation neutrons from neutron-saturated nuclei excited by them, such as fission and tritium nuclei. And thirdly, due to the coincident or increased relativistic mass of high-energy protons to the values of the masses of the heaviest synthesis nuclei, their cyclotron frequency of rotation in the magnetic field AZ of the reactor will consistently coincide with the values of cyclotron rotation frequencies of lighter ions of the synthesis nuclei located in AZ of the reactor, and at such moments the energy of the VP will be efficiently - resonantly - transmitted to the ions at the cyclotron frequency by means of electromagnetic and magnetoacoustic radiation values of the generated VP [3,4]. In addition, the energy of the VP will be transferred to the ions of the synthesis nuclei collectively through various plasma instabilities, such as two-stream, turbulent [5,6], etc.

 The problem is achieved due to the fact that in the method of creating reactive thrust of a nuclear rocket engine, which consists in the fact that the fissile material is ionized and moved by rotation inside the magnetic trap with the speed of its resonant fission when it collides with thermal neutrons emerging from the moderator surrounding the reactor core . In this case, under the influence of high-energy fission products in the initial synthesis nuclei, thermonuclear fusion reactions are initiated, and the resulting high-energy fission products and fusion are sent to the engine output nozzle to create reactive thrust. For this, at the initial moment of time, when there are no fission nuclei and initial synthesis nuclei in the reactor core, the initial products of fission and synthesis reactions are introduced into the reactor core, then after reaching a predetermined concentration and the required ratio between fission and synthesis nuclei into a magnetic trap, the time of initiation of fission and synthesis reactions, high-energy protons are introduced and, under the influence of a magnetic field, they are rotated inside it, forcing them to pass through the steam or gas from fissile material and the initial synthesis nuclei, thereby initiating the occurrence of nuclear reactions in them with the emission of neutrons, such as fission, evaporation of neutrons from excited fission and tritium nuclei, etc. The fast neutrons emitted in this way are sent to the moderator and slow them down to thermal energies, after which the resulting thermal neutrons are directed inside the magnetic trap.

где R_AЗ - радиус AЗ магнитной ловушки;
R_p - ларморовский радиус ВП (ларморовский радиус уменьшается при снижении энергии);
М_р, M_i - релятивистская масса ВП и выбранного типа исходных ядер синтеза;
V_p - скорость ВП;
Z_p, Z_i - заряд ВП и выбранного типа исходных ядер синтеза;
В_р, B_i - напряженность магнитного поля в месте вращения ВП и выбранного типа исходных ядер синтеза;
ν_p, ν_i- ларморовская частота вращения ВП и выбранного типа исходных ядер синтеза;
с - скорость света;
m_р - масса протона;
Δm - релятивистское приращение массы;
Δm/m_p+1 - масса, которая должна соответствовать исходному ядру синтеза (например, дейтерию его масса равна 2 протонам, следовательно, Δm = m_p и тогда Δm/m_p+1 = 2).
Таким образом, основным преимуществом инициирования реакций деления и синтеза ВП является многофакторность их использования и то, что их можно ввести непосредственно внутрь AЗ - магнитной ловушки реактора, в которой они, вращаясь по своему ларморовскому радиусу, будут постоянно проходить через плазму делящегося вещества и поэтому даже в разреженной плазме из-за достаточно большого пути пройденного в ней они произведут большое число нейтронов и, кроме того, передадут по плазменным безстолкновительным каналам значительную часть своей энергии непосредственно исходным ионам синтеза, тем самым облегчат инициирование начала совместного протекания реакций РД деления и термоядерного синтеза.In addition to generating fast neutrons, high-energy protons, rotating inside the reactor core, ionize fission and fusion nuclei and, due to this, provide the beginning of their drift rotation under the influence of crossed electric and magnetic fields at a speed that ensures resonant-dynamic fission of fissile material. Moreover, the energy — the speed and relativistic mass of high-energy protons introduced into the reactor core — is set so that their cyclotron frequency of rotation in the magnetic field of the trap coincides with the cyclotron frequency of the selected type of the initial synthesis nuclei located in the axial region of the magnetic trap, which will provide collisionless energy transfer of high-energy protons, through the generation of electromagnetic and magnetoacoustic waves by them, directly to the original nuclei of the thesis. In addition, the energy of high-energy protons will be transferred to the nuclei of synthesis due to collective, also collisionless, plasma processes - instabilities, such as two-stream, turbulent, etc. After the launch of the joint fission and synthesis reactions, the supply of high-energy protons to the reactor core is stopped or can be continued if it is necessary to further reduce the critical density of the fissile material, if the fission or synthesis reactions are insufficient in power, if additional energy is needed, as well as if they are completely excluded from the joint reactions synthesis or division reactions. In this case, so that the high-energy protons introduced into the active zone do not fall on the walls of the reactor, their Larmor radius should not exceed the radius of the active zone, and the energy - speed - the relativistic mass of high-energy protons, as well as the Larmor frequency of their rotation and rotation of the synthesis nuclei located in the near-axis region of the active zone are determined by the following relationships:
The ratio of the radii: R _AZ > R _p = M _p • V _p / (Z _p • B _p )
Rotational speed: ν _p = Z _p • B _p / (2 • π • M _P ); ν _i = Z _i • B _i / (2 • π • M _i );
Determination of relativistic mass of VP: M _p = Z _p • B _p • M _i / (Z _i • B _i );
VP Speed:

where R _AZ - radius AZ of the magnetic trap;
R _p - Larmor radius of the airspace (Larmor radius decreases with decreasing energy);
M _p , M _i - relativistic mass of VP and the selected type of the original synthesis nuclei;
V _p - speed VP;
Z _p , Z _i is the charge of the VP and the selected type of the initial synthesis nuclei;
In _p , B _i - the magnetic field strength at the place of rotation of the VP and the selected type of the original synthesis nuclei;
ν _p , ν _i - Larmor frequency of rotation of the VP and the selected type of the initial synthesis nuclei;
c is the speed of light;
m _p is the mass of the proton;
Δm is the relativistic mass increment;
Δm / m _p +1 is the mass that should correspond to the original nucleus of the synthesis (for example, its deuterium mass is 2 protons, therefore, Δm = m _p and then Δm / m _p +1 = 2).
Thus, the main advantage of initiating VP fission and synthesis reactions is the multifactorial nature of their use and the fact that they can be introduced directly into the AZ, the magnetic trap of the reactor in which, rotating along their Larmor radius, they will constantly pass through the plasma of fissile material and therefore even in a rarefied plasma, due to the sufficiently large path traveled in it, they will produce a large number of neutrons and, in addition, will transmit a significant part of their energy through plasma collisionless channels WGIG direct synthesis starting ions thereby facilitate the initiation of reactions beginning joint RD fission and nuclear fusion.

 Table 1, in the first three lines, shows the values of cyclotron frequencies and the frequencies of magnetoacoustic waves at which the original synthesis nuclei can absorb energy, as well as their Larmor rotation radii when heated to 70 keV. The last three lines show the cyclotron frequencies of the fundamental and its first harmonics generated by the VP at their energies of 1, 2, and 3 GeV, as well as the Larmor radii of rotation of the VP in a magnetic field of 5 T.

 In the table. Figure 2 shows the calculated parameters that ensure stable fission and fusion reactions when the energy released by the fission reaction is 70%, and the thermonuclear fusion energy of the D-T reaction is 30% of the total energy release from both reactions.

 The drawing shows the relative decrease in the critical density of fissile material with a decrease in the fraction of fission energy in the total energy release (Fission + D-T synthesis).

 The sequence of operations during the implementation of the proposed method will be as follows: filling the AZ reactor with vapors or a gas of fissile material and the gas of the initial synthesis nuclei to a predetermined concentration, at which the nuclear reactions of the fission and synthesis RD will subsequently proceed, introducing the VP reactor into the AZ and rotating inside it with frequency of rotation of ionized synthesis ions located in the axial region, generation of fast neutron VP from fission and fusion nuclei, deceleration of fast neutrons to thermal energies and the direction of VT inside АЗ of the reactor, ionization of fissile nuclei and the initial synthesis nuclei by means of VP and their rotation under the action of crossed electric and magnetic fields around the longitudinal axis of the reactor with a drift velocity providing RD fission of fissile material nuclei VT, heating to the fusion temperatures of the initial ions of the synthesis nuclei located in the near-axis region, by means of electromagnetic and magnetoacoustic waves generated by the VP, as well as due to collective plasma processes — instabilities also caused by the VP. After ignition of the joint reactions of RD fission and thermonuclear fusion, the supply of VP to the reactor AZ is stopped.

 The main difference from the prototype is that at the moment of launching the fission and fusion reactions of VPs, in addition to generating fast neutrons directly in the AZ of the reactor, they simultaneously with the generation of neutrons heat the initial synthesis nuclei to thermonuclear temperatures, and directly in the axial region of the AZ, that is, exactly where subsequently, thermonuclear reactions will take place after the cessation of VP supply.

 Let us compare the efficiency of initiating RD reactions of fission of fissile material when it is irradiated with a powerful fast-neutron pulse of an additional source and from the action of VP on fissile material and fusion nuclei.

 If a powerful source of fast neutrons is used to initiate the RD fission reaction, then in order to induce a noticeable yield of fission reactions in a rarefied plasma of fissile material in the AZ of the reactor, the fast neutrons of the source should be slowed down to thermal energies, since only they can initiate a noticeable number acts of division.

см, это значение и будем использовать в последующих расчетах. Вследствие большого времени жизни ТН в тяжеловодном замедлителе (t_Ж≈0,1 с), они, отражаясь от замедлителя, могут еще несколько раз пересечь AЗ реактора. Для увеличения эффекта предположим, что они отражаются от стенок AЗ моментально, а внутри AЗ проходят путь, равный 570 см, со скоростью V_ТН= 2,2•10⁵ см/с. В этом случае число пересечений AЗ реактора равно N= t_ЖV_TH/570=0,1•2,2•10⁵/570=38. Следовательно, суммарный путь ТН в AЗ реактора будет равен 570•38=21660 см.Suppose that the reactor AZ is an endless cylinder with a diameter of 400 cm, which is surrounded by a moderator. The angular distribution of VTs leaving the wall inside the cylinder is close to the cosine distribution [7, p. 287]; therefore, in more than 90% VTs, the maximum path through the AZ of the reactor will be less

see, this value will be used in subsequent calculations. Due to the long lifetime of the VT in the heavy-water moderator (t _Ж ≈ 0.1 s), they, reflected from the moderator, can cross the AZ reactor several more times. To increase the effect, suppose that they are reflected from the walls of the AZ instantly, and inside the AZ they pass a path equal to 570 cm, with a speed of V _VT = 2.2 • 10 ⁵ cm / s. In this case, the number of intersections is equal to the reactor AZ N = t _F V _TH / 570 = 0,1 • 2,2 • 10 ^5/570 = 38. Consequently, the total VT path in the reactor AZ will be 570 • 38 = 21660 cm.

где n - плотность ядер деления (n=10¹⁵ яд/см³);
σ_f - максимальное значение сечения деления в выбранном резонансе (Е_р=0,3 эВ, σ_f = 3000 барн);
k - максимальное значение динамического эффекта в резонансе при условии, когда движение нейтронов и ядер вещества взаимно перпендикулярно

Полученная длина в 96340/21660=4,5 раза больше максимального пробега ТН в AЗ реактора, поэтому только менее четверти всех ТН будет участвовать в РД делении делящегося вещества.The mean free path of TN in the plasma of fissile material is

where n is the density of the fission nuclei (n = 10 ¹⁵ poison / cm ³ );
σ _f is the maximum value of the fission cross section at the selected resonance (E _p = 0.3 eV, σ _f = 3000 barn);
k is the maximum value of the dynamic effect in resonance, provided that the motion of the neutrons and nuclei of the substance is mutually perpendicular

The obtained length is 96340/21660 = 4.5 times the maximum run of the VT in the reactor reactor AZ, therefore, only less than a quarter of all VT will participate in the RD fission of fissile material.

The mean free path in a plutonium plasma with a density of 10 ¹⁵ poison / cm ³ under the assumption that the fission cross section of plutonium and uranium coincide (the fission cross section of uranium-238 is given in [8, p. 942] and is equal to 1 bar), is equal to
λ = 1 / (n • σ _f ) = 1 / (10 ¹⁵ • 1 • 10 ^-24 ) = 10 ⁹ cm (7)
where n is the plasma density of plutonium;
σ _f - the plutonium fission cross section of VP, barn.

Consider the path traveled by the VP with an energy of, for example, 1 GeV in a magnetic trap that holds them for 0.05 seconds. Suppose that during this time the VP will lose 60% of its energy, then the average velocity of the VP is 2.35 • 10 ¹⁰ cm / s (the speed of the VP with an energy of 1 GeV is 2.6 • 10 • 10 ¹⁰ cm / s and 2.1 • 10 ¹⁰ cm / s at E _p = 0.4 GeV). Based on this speed, the path traveled by the VP in the trap during their retention time of 0.05 s will be 2.35 • 10 ¹⁰ • 0.05 = 1.17 • 10 ⁹ cm, which is equivalent to the intersection of the 24-cm metal plutonium VP (1.17 • 10 ⁹ • 10 ¹⁵ / 4.95 • 10 ²² = 24 cm). This length is greater than the mean free path of the VP in this plasma; therefore, with a probability of 70%, the VP will carry out the act of division.

 From the above data it follows that the use of VP for the fission of plasma ions from fissile material is much more preferable than their fission of VT obtained from an additional source of fast neutrons, even in the case of their RD fission. This advantage increases even more when neutrons emitted due to inelastic interactions of VPs with the nuclei of heavy and light elements contained in the AZ of the reactor are taken into account. It was shown in [1], [9, p. 67] that as a result of these processes, each VP with an energy of 1 GeV can knock out up to 32 neutrons from lead and up to 50.. . 100 neutrons from fissile substances (fission neutrons under the influence of VP are included in these values), while the energy release in the uranium target from these neutrons is 10 times higher than the energy of the proton beam. This means that fission energy due to the VP will be added to the VP energy, which will also facilitate the start of reactions, i.e., less VP energy will be introduced into the reactor AZ.

 Let us now consider the mechanism of interaction of VP with ions of the nuclei of deuterium, tritium, and helium-3, which are the initial nuclei in the synthesis reactions.

 As shown in [4], near the cyclotron and lower hybrid frequencies of plasma ions, energy absorption unrelated to collisions can occur. The source of such energy, in our case, can be electromagnetic cyclotron radiation generated by airborne particles introduced into a magnetic trap. This radiation belongs to the microwave range [10, p. 12], therefore, if the cyclotron or lower hybrid ion frequencies coincide with this radiation frequency, it can be strongly absorbed by the ions of the original synthesis nuclei, that is, heat them.

The cyclotron frequencies of the VP and ions of the synthesis nuclei are determined by the expression
ν _i = Z _i • B _i / (2 • π • M _i ) (8)
where Z _i is the charge of an ion of type i;
B _i - magnetic field strength at the location of the ion of type i;
M _i is the mass of a type i ion;
i - type of ion (D - deuterium, T - tritium. Non - helium, P - proton).

Кроме циклотронного СВЧ-излучения, ВП будут генерировать поперечные магнитоакустические волны (МАВ), частота которых, как показано в работе [9], совпадает с циклотронной частотой ВП. В работе [3] показано, что МАВ подобны обычным продольным акустическим волнам с той лишь разницей, что к давлению среды добавится магнитное давление, в этом случае суммарное давление равно
P = P₀+H²/(8•π) (10)
где Р₀ - давление плазмы;
H²/(8•π) - давление магнитного поля, направленное перпендикулярно направлению распространения МАВ.The low hybrid ion frequency is determined by the ratio
ν $\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{\text{2}}{\text{h}}$ = ν _i • ν _e / [1+ (ν _e / ν ₀ ) ² ] (9)
where ν _i is the cyclotron frequency of the ion;
ν _e is the cyclotron frequency of the electron;
ν ₀ - electron plasma frequency

In addition to cyclotron microwave radiation, the VP will generate transverse magnetoacoustic waves (MAV), the frequency of which, as shown in [9], coincides with the cyclotron frequency of the VP. It was shown in [3] that MEAs are similar to ordinary longitudinal acoustic waves with the only difference being that magnetic pressure is added to the medium pressure, in this case the total pressure is
P = P ₀ + H ² / (8 • π) (10)
where P ₀ is the plasma pressure;
H ² / (8 • π) is the pressure of the magnetic field directed perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the MAV.

The physical essence of the MAV propagation process lies in the fact that the kinetic energy of the plasma medium can be transferred both to the usual compression energy of the gas medium and to the energy of the magnetic field, provided that the magnetic field is sufficiently strong, i.e. then, when the magnetic pressure is much greater than the plasma pressure. (This condition is always fulfilled here because the plasma must be held.) MAVs are brought into vibrational motion with the same amplitude at the same time as electrons and ions, but since the mass of ions is many times greater than the mass of electrons, only ions are heated. It was shown in [3] that in the case when the plasma temperature is quite high (ie, the energy exchange between electrons and ions by collisions becomes very small, which takes place at temperatures of more than a million degrees) and, moreover, if the main frequencies MAV and ions of approximately the same order, it is advisable to make the MAV frequency equal to ν _MAB = 2 • ν _i , at which there will be a resonant, most efficient heating of ions with MAV energy (if the cyclotron frequency is two times lower than the MAV frequency, then this condition can to be performed at its first, second, etc. harmonics). In addition to these processes for plasma heating, VPs will transfer their energy to the ions of the synthesis nuclei through various plasma instabilities, the main of which may be two-stream, turbulent, etc. [5, 6].

 Let us consider how the energy of the VP will be transferred to the ions of the initial nuclei of thermonuclear fusion. Suppose that the magnetic field within the magnetic trap is uniform and equal to 5 T. For this case, Table 1 shows the Larmor rotation frequencies of the initial synthesis ions and VP. From the presented data, it follows that with an increase in the IP energy due to an increase in their relativistic mass, their cyclotron frequency decreases. This means that when they are introduced into a magnetic trap, when they are slowed down on the nuclei of fissile material and the initial nuclei of the synthesis, their relativistic mass will gradually decrease, while their Larmor frequency, due to the constancy of charge, will increase and as a result it will consistently will coincide with the Larmor frequencies of tritium, deuterium and helium-3, and at such moments there will be a resonant transfer of VP energy to these nuclei. In addition, the fundamental and first harmonics of the Larmor frequencies of the VP will also carry out resonant energy transfer through the MAV, and at higher harmonics, energy will be transmitted at the lower hybrid frequency, which is 1 ... 2 orders of magnitude higher than the cyclotron frequency. It should be noted that non-resonant energy transfer to the electromagnetic cyclotron microwave and MAV will occur during the entire time the VP in the reactor AZ.

 If the magnetic field in the reactor reactor AZ is not uniform, for example, due to the fact that the plasma partially displaces it from its volume, then in this case the magnetic field on the trap axis will be minimal and will increase with distance from the axis. Therefore, the Larmor frequency of rotation of ions on the axis АЗ of the reactor will be minimal. VPs having, as shown in Table 2, a large Larmor radius will rotate on the periphery of the magnetic trap in a magnetic field of greater intensity than on the axis, therefore their relative Larmor rotation frequency with the fusion ions on the axis will be slightly higher. than their relative frequencies given in Table 2, where the magnetic field is assumed to be uniform. However, even in this case, it is possible to select the energy of the VP such that an effective resonant method of transferring their energy to the initial ions of the synthesis nuclei located near the axis of the magnetic trap occurs. In addition to the transfer of energy by electromagnetic and magnetoacoustic waves, VPs will transfer their energy to fusion nuclei ions through other collective plasma channels, such as two-stream instability, turbulence, etc.

 Let us consider what energy of the VP beam is necessary for triggering joint fission reactions and, for example, D-T synthesis in a magnetic trap of a reactor with a plasma retention time of 0.05 sec. For traps with this retention time in table. Figure 2 presents the calculated parameters that ensure stable fission and thermonuclear fusion reactions, and it is assumed that fusion occurs in 0.1 part of the reactor reactor volume A, which is located in its axial region. The nuclei of fissile material rotate around the longitudinal axis of the magnetic trap. The amount of the plasma of the initial synthesis nuclei heated up to a temperature of 70 keV leaving the cone of losses is compensated by supplying cold gas from these nuclei through the side wall АЗ of the reactor. Due to centrifugation, these nuclei pass through the plasma of fissile material and fall into the axial region, while they cool the ions of fissile material, reduce the degree of ionization to unity, and approaching the axial region they completely ionize and heat up to thermonuclear temperatures.

 Due to their good centrifugal retention, the nuclei of fissile material do not escape through the loss cone of the magnetic trap. When calculating the bremsstrahlung from the near-axis region of a thermonuclear plasma, it is assumed that due to centrifugation, the density of fissile nuclei in the near-axis region is three orders of magnitude lower than if all the fissile matter was uniformly distributed throughout the AZ volume [11, p. 25].

We will calculate for the reactor volume AZ equal to 1 m ³ , the results of which will, if necessary, be converted to other AZ volumes by proportionally increasing the data obtained, and we assume that all the VP energy (energy of fission fragments in heating We will not take into account synthesis nuclei).

To start the joint occurrence of RD fission and thermonuclear fusion reactions, it is necessary to heat 0.1 volumes of the AZ reactor located in the near-axis region for 0.05 s to 70 keV, as follows from the data in Table 3, this will amount to 3.5 • 10 ¹⁹ cores. To heat such a number of cores, an energy equal to W = 3.5 • 10 ¹⁹ • 70,000 • 1.6 • 10 ^-19 ≈0.4 MJ is required.

 If this volume is necessary to heat up to 70 keV constantly, then an every second supply of energy equal to 0.4 / 0.05 = 8 MJ will be required.

 It was shown in [12] that upon resonance heating of ions directly, the electron temperature will be approximately 10 times lower. Therefore, the total energy will be equal to 0.44 when heated for 0.05 s or 9 MJ with constant heating, if electrons also have to be heated to 70 keV, then energies equal to 0.8 and 16 MJ will be required, respectively.

Taking into account the fact that the time of fast neutron deceleration to thermal energies and the subsequent arrival of VT in AZ from the moderator will not exceed 0.002 s and that this time is 25 times less than the plasma confinement time by a magnetic trap, which is equal to 0.05 s in the considered example, then 0.05 s, during which the VP will be introduced into the magnetic trap and held by it, is enough to start the joint reactions of RD fission and synthesis. Based on this time, it follows that in order to start the reaction in the AZ of a 1 m ³ reactor, a proton pulse with an energy of 16 • 0.05 = 0.8 MJ is needed. With an increase in the volume of the reactor AZ, the energy of the proton beam must also increase proportionally to trigger reactions.

 Currently, the design of a proton accelerator for an energy of 1 GeV with a beam current of 0.3 A with a continuous power of 300 MW is nearing completion for an electron-nuclear reactor [13]. Consequently, there are no technical difficulties in obtaining VPs with energies up to 1 GeV to start joint RD fission and synthesis reactions. The introduction of VP into the magnetic trap of an AZ reactor is also not difficult, since at low energies of the VP they can be introduced through its loss cone. If the VP energy is high and their Larmor radius is comparable to the radius of the trap, then they can be introduced through the side wall of the trap perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, as suggested for inertial synthesis [14, p. 450]. In this case, they will be well held by the magnetic field of the trap and thereby provide a more complete transfer of their energy to fission of fissile material, generation of neutrons from fission and fusion nuclei, heating of fusion ions to thermonuclear temperatures, and initiate the beginning of the joint occurrence of RD fission and fusion reactions.

Let us determine the relationship between the number of neutrons received from the VP and the fission energy due to them arising from the fissile material in the AZ reactor. To do this, we use the data given in table. 3, and the curve 1 shown in the drawing, taken from [15], which shows the decrease in the critical density of fissile material with a change in the fraction of fission energy in the total energy release (fission and DT synthesis). From the presented change in the critical density of fissile material it follows that the critical density will decrease by 10 times at 70% of the fission energy and 30% of the DT reaction energy. The data in Table 3 correspond to the same case. From table 3 it follows that 70% of the fission energy corresponds to 17.4 MW. Based on the fact that 1 kW corresponds to 3.1 • 10 ¹³ fission events [7, p. 33] and the fact that during one fission event of Pu-239, 2.9 neutrons are emitted and 200 MeV of energy is released [7, p. 30 ], it follows that the total number of emitted neutrons at 17.4 MW of fission energy will be equal to
N _H (div) = 17.4 • 10 ³ • 3.1 • 10 ¹³ • 2.9 = 1.6 • 10 ¹⁸ [neutrons].

In one act of DT synthesis, one neutron is emitted and 17.6 MeV of energy is released (we do not consider other emitted particles). This means that for the release of 200 MeV of energy (as in the fission reaction), 200 / 17.6 = 11.4 acts of synthesis are necessary. Therefore, at 7.5 MW of fusion energy, the number of emitted neutrons will be equal to
N _H (synth) = 7.5 • 10 ³ • 11.4 • 3.1 • 10 ¹³ • 1.0 = 2.6 • 10 ¹⁸ [neutrons].

 That is, for each emitted synthesis neutron in fissile material, the density of which is 10 times less than critical, 0.6 fission neutrons are produced, while the fusion energy is 2.3 times less than the fission energy (a similar calculation for the density of fissile material is 100 times less than the critical one showed that 0.06 fission neutrons are formed for each fusion neutron, while the fusion energy is 4 times the fission energy, since 20% (energy) / 80% (energy synth) = 0.25).

An important property of the obtained N _n (div) / N _n (synth) ratios is that for the density of fissile material at which this ratio was obtained, it is valid for all types of reactions and for any capacities generated from these reactions. This means that for the density of fissile material nuclei in an AZ reactor, it does not matter whether there will be additional neutrons from thermonuclear fusion or whether they will be neutrons due, for example, to VP.

 Let us find the number of neutrons arising from the VP beam with a power of 1 MW at the VP energy of 1 GeV. It was shown in [1, p. 887] that the total number of neutrons arising from the interaction of VP with a depleted or natural mixture of U-238 is 102 n / proton at an energy of VP 1 GeV, while only 0.7% of the uranium impurity 235 in uranium-238 increases the neutron yield by a quarter (a similar result gives the same admixture of plutonium in uranium-238 [1, p. 890]). Based on the fact that the neutron yield from plutonium-239 should be greater than that from uranium-238, we will use a neutron yield of 100 for calculations, in fact, this value in our case can be clearly underestimated, since 100% enrichment of fissile is used substances.

Let us find the number of VP (N _p ) corresponding to the proton beam energy W _p = 1 MW, and assume that the VP energy is E _p = 1 GeV
N _p = W _p / (E _p • 1.6 • 10 ^-19 ) = 10 ⁶ / (10 ⁹ • 1.6 • 10 ^-19 ) = 6.25 • 10 ¹⁵ [prot].

Based on the output of neutrons at one VP, the total number of neutrons will be 6.25 • 10 ¹⁷ neutrons. Assuming that the critical density of fissile material is reduced by 10 times, that is, when 0.6 fission neutrons are formed for each additional neutron, the fission energy will be equal to
W (div) = 0.6 • 6.25 • 10 ¹⁷ / (3.1 • 10 ¹³ • 2.9) = 4.2 MW.

 This means that the total energy, consisting of the energy of the VP and the fission energy, is equal to 5.2 MW. Consequently, the energy of the VP in the total energy release will be 18.5%. This means that when 100 neutrons are released per VP, having an energy of 1 GeV, it is economically feasible to use the VP beam to start the reaction or subsequently maintain the fission reaction and, most importantly, the average fast neutron energy generated by the VP is 2 MeV, as neutron fission. As a result, the use of VP for RD fission on nuclear rocket engines instead of RD fission and D-T fusion reaction is preferable.

Literature
1. Barashenkov BC Nuclear-physical aspects of the electro-nuclear method. Physics of elementary particles and atomic nucleus, vol. 9, issue 5, M., Atomizdat, 1978.

 2. Blagovolin P. P., Kazaritsky V. D., Kiselev G.V. et al. Transmutation of long-lived radioactive waste from nuclear energy. Atomic Energy, Volume 70, Issue 6, June, 1991.

 3. Kapitsa P.L., Pitaevsky L.P. Plasma heating by magnetoacoustic vibrations. JETP, Vol. 4 (10), 1974.

 4. Frank-Kamenetsky D.A. On the natural oscillations of a limited plasma. ZHTEF, Issue 3 (9), 1960.

 5. Babaritsky A.I., Ivanov A.A., Severny V.V. and others. A beam-plasma discharge in crossed electric and magnetic fields. Doklady of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Volume 237, l, 1977.

 6. Elagin N.I., Fanchenko S.D. Investigation of turbulent plasma heating depending on the mass of ions. ZHETF, T.67, Issue 4 (10), 1974.

 7. Broder D. L., Kozlovsky S. A., Kyzyurov B. C. and other Biological protection of transport reactor plants. M., Atomizdat, 1969.

 8. Kikoin I. K. Tables of physical quantities. Handbook, M., Atomizdat, 1976.

 9. Kramer-Ageev EA, Lavrenchik V.N., Samosadny V.T. and other Experimental methods of neutron research, M., Energoatomizdat, 1990.

10. Golovin I. N. Low-radioactive controlled thermonuclear fusion (reactors with D- ³ He), M., Central Research Institute of Atominform, 1989.

 11. Korobtsev S.V., Rusanov V.D. Plasma centrifuge - a new type of plasma chemical reactor. Review, M., 1988.

 12. Kovan I.A., Spector A.M. Ion heating upon excitation in a plasma of magnetosonic vibrations. JETP, T.53, Issue 4 (10), 1967.

 13. Chigrinov S.E., Kievitskaya A.I., Petlitsky V.A. et al. Transmutation of actinides in an electron-nuclear breeder on molten U-Th salts, Materials of the 4th Conference of the Nuclear Forces of the Russian Federation, Nizhny Novgorod, 1993.

 14. Physics of high energy densities. Translation from English, ed. O. N. Krokhina, Publishing house "Mir", M., 1974.

 15. Irdyncheev L.A., Malofeev A.M. The concept of a hybrid nuclear reactor of resonant fission with additional fusion neutrons, Materials of the 8th conference of the nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation, 1997.

Claims (1)

A method for initiating a nuclear resonance-dynamic fission nuclear reaction, which consists in the fact that the fissile material is ionized and moved by rotation inside the magnetic trap with the speed of its resonant fission upon collision with thermal neutrons emerging from the moderator, and the resulting high-energy fission products are sent to the engine output nozzle for creating reactive thrust, characterized in that at the initial moment of time, when there are no fission nuclei and initial fusion nuclei in the reactor core, the active The initial zone of the reactor is injected with the initial products of fission and synthesis reactions, then after reaching a predetermined concentration and the required ratio between fission and synthesis nuclei, high-energy protons are introduced into the magnetic trap during the initiation of fission and synthesis reactions and rotate them inside it under the influence of a magnetic field, forcing them during the entire time that they are trapped, pass through the vapor or gas in it from fissile material and the original fusion nuclei, and thereby initiate a nuclear reaction in them with the emission of neutrons, such as fission, the evaporation of neutrons from excited fission and tritium nuclei, etc., the fast neutrons emitted in this way are sent to the moderator and slow them down to thermal energies, after which the obtained thermal neutrons are directed inside the magnetic trap, this, in addition to generating fast neutrons, high-energy protons, rotating inside the reactor core, ionize the fission and fusion nuclei and, due to this, provide the beginning of their drift rotation under the action of crossed electrons magnetic and magnetic fields with a speed that ensures resonant-dynamic fission of fissile material, while the energy - speed - relativistic mass of high-energy protons introduced into the reactor core is set so that their cyclotron frequency of rotation in the magnetic field of the trap coincides with the cyclotron frequency of rotation of the selected type of initial synthesis nuclei located in the axial region of the magnetic trap, which will provide collisionless energy transfer of high-energy protons after by generating electromagnetic and magnetoacoustic waves directly to the original synthesis nuclei, in addition, the energy of high-energy protons will be transferred to the synthesis nuclei due to collective, also collisionless, plasma instability processes, such as two-stream, turbulent, etc., after fission reactions are launched and synthesis, the supply of high-energy protons to the reactor core is stopped or can be continued if necessary to further reduce the critical density fissile material, with insufficient power of fission or synthesis reactions, if necessary, to obtain additional energy, as well as with the complete exclusion from the joint reaction, fusion or fission reaction, in order to prevent high-energy protons introduced into the active zone from falling onto the walls of the reactor, they the Larmor radius should not exceed the radius of the active zone, while the energy - speed - relativistic mass of high-energy protons, as well as the Larmor frequency of their rotation and rotation of the synthesis nuclei, finding their in the axial region of the active zone are determined by the following relationships:
ratio of radii
R _AZ > R _p = M _p • V _p / (Z _p • B _p );
rotation frequency
ν _p = Z _p • B _p / (2 • π • M _P ); ν _i = Z _i • B _i / (2 • π • M _i );
determination of the relativistic mass of high-energy protons
M _p = Z _p • B _p • M _i / (Z _i • B _i );
high-energy proton velocity

where R _AZ is the radius of the active zone of the magnetic trap;
R _p - Larmor radius of high-energy protons (Larmor radius decreases with decreasing energy);
M _r , M _i - the relativistic mass of the high-energy proton and the selected type of the initial synthesis nuclei;
V _p is the velocity of high-energy protons;
Z _p , Z _i is the charge of the high-energy proton and the selected type of the initial synthesis nuclei;
In _p , In _i - the magnetic field strength at the site of rotation of high-energy protons and the selected type of the original synthesis nuclei;
ν _p , ν _i is the Larmor frequency of rotation of high-energy protons and the selected type of the initial synthesis nuclei;
c is the speed of light;
m _p is the mass of the proton;
Δm is the relativistic mass increment;
Δm / m _p +1 is the mass that should correspond to the original synthesis core (for example, deuterium, its mass is 2 protons, therefore Δm = m _p and then Δm / m _p +1 = 2).

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