Primary Intelligence Asset
LANL FissionPlasmaPropulsion 1995
Declassified Public record OCR verified
INTEL
Executive Summary
Produced by Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1995, this document investigates the use of magnetic configurations like the spheromak to control gas-core fission plasmas for nuclear thermal propulsion. The research focuses on the compatibility of reactor criticality with the MHD dynamo action required for plasma sustainment, identifying the Lundquist number as a key performance metric.
Analysis Confidence: High
ST_CODE: 4F66AB
System Metadata
Source ID
DOC-00405753
Process Date
8/9/2026
Integrity Hash
SHA256-xd2hzv1m3s...
Indexer Status
COMPLETE
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Full Transcript
Transcript
Page 1 of 3
INTRODUCTION
, LA.u R-g5-2674 me: Auitw(s): , /k’ss29L.J Los Alamos NATIONALLABORATORY bvvr -[uw{c?=- ‘/ POSSIBILITIES FORMAGNETICCONTROLOFFISSION PLASMAPROPULSION R.A.Gamin,R.A.Nebel,Theoretical Division,T-15 D.I.Poston,TSA-12 Los Almos National Laboratory 31STAIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEEJOINTPROPULSIONCONFERENCE ANDEXHIBIT,JULY10-12,1995/San Diego,CA DISTRIBUTIONOFTHISDOCUMEWISUNLIMIT~~~ AIAA95-2903 Possibilitiesfor Magnetic Controlof Fission Plasma Propulsion R.A.Gerwin,D.I.Poston,and R.A.Nebel Los Alamos National Laboratory Los 31st AIAAIASMEBAEIASEE Joint Propulsion Conferenceand Exhibit Juiy10-12,1995/San Dis$o,CA Forponnloalonto OOPYorropubllah,oontoottho Amortow IInotltutoof Aoronoutlooand Aotronout Joo 070L’#nfant Promoni& $.W.,Waohln@on,D.C.2~4 . Possi Mit&afor Magnet&Co Etroiof F&aio IIPlasma Propulsion R.A.Gerwin*,D,I.Poston**,and R.A.Nebel* La Afamos National Laboratov,Los Afamos,New Mexico
Cited In (23 references)
Dossiers (21)
University of Michigan (NERS)
Citation
Spheromak
Source Reference
Compact Toroid
Source Reference
Beta (plasma)
Source Reference
Lundquist Number
Source Reference
Magnetic Reynolds Number
Source Reference
Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)
Source Reference
Magnetic Reconnection
Source Reference
Deuterium
Source Reference
KeV
Source Reference
Plasma Propulsion
Source Reference
Fission Propulsion
Source Reference
ELF Thruster
Source Reference
Specific Impulse (Isp)
Source Reference
NumerEx LLC
Source Reference
Field Propulsion Technologies (FPT)
Source Reference
UnLAB
Source Reference
MACH2
Source Reference
Francis Thio
Source Reference
M.H. Frese
Source Reference
Oxygen-Rich Staged Combustion (ORSC)
Source Reference
Glossary Terms (1)
Research Rounds (1)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this document? ▾
Produced by Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1995, this document investigates the use of magnetic configurations like the spheromak to control gas-core fission plasmas for nuclear thermal propulsion. The research focuses on the compatibility of reactor criticality with the MHD dynamo action require...
Where is this document cited in the investigation? ▾
This document is referenced in 23 places across the investigation: 21 Dossiers, 1 Glossary Terms, 1 Research Rounds. See the "Cited In" section below for the complete list of pages that reference this document.