Antiparticle content in planetary magnetospheres and its possible use as fuel for remote heliosphere space missions
Abstract
In this presentation we assess the stable and transient antiparticle content of planetary magnetospheres and subsequently consider their capture and application to high delta-v space propulsion We estimate the total antiparticle mass contained within the Earth s magnetosphere to assess the expediency of such usage Using Earth s magnetic field region as an example we have considered the various source mechanisms that are applicable to a planetary magnetosphere the confinement duration versus transport processes and the antiparticle loss mechanisms We have estimated the trapped population of antiparticles magnetically confined following production in the exosphere due to nuclear interactions between high energy cosmic rays CR and constituents of the residual planetary upper atmosphere The galactic antiprotons that directly penetrate into the Earth s magnetosphere are themselves born in nuclear reactions of the matter component chiefly protons of the cosmic rays passing through 5-7 g cm2 of interstellar matter Their fluxes are modified dependent on energy when penetrating into the heliosphere and subsequently into planetary magnetospheres In contrast magnetospherically generated antiprotons are locally produced at a pass-length of several tens grams cm2 by matter in the ambient planetary upper atmosphere and exosphere Due to the latter process magnetically confined fluxes significantly exceed the fluxes of the galactic antiprotons that pass through the magnetosphere by up to two orders of magnitude at some energies We present results
- Publication:
-
36th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006cosp...36..362P