The Pulsed Fission-Fusion (PuFF) Engine: Development Status

Robert B Adams; Magdalena Allen; Augustin Demonceaux; Glen Doughty; Patrick Giddens; Kimberly Gonzalez; John Kuczek; Kendall Lloyd; Rosemary Williams; Jason Cassibry; Nathan Schilling; Bryan Winterling

NASA NTRS · 20205009102

The Pulsed Fission-Fusion (PuFF) Engine: Development Status

Robert B Adams·Magdalena Allen·Augustin Demonceaux·Glen Doughty·Patrick Giddens·Kimberly Gonzalez·John Kuczek·Kendall Lloyd·Rosemary Williams·Jason Cassibry·Nathan Schilling·Bryan Winterling

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Abstract

The PuFF (Pulsed Fission Fusion) project aims to revolutionize space travel through nuclear propulsion. PuFF will produce both high specific impulse (Isp 5,000-30,000 sec) and high thrust (10-100 kN), enabling quick (~1 month) transit times to Mars, the outer planets and exiting the solar system (~5 years). PuFF creates thrust by imploding a fission-fusion target using a Z-pinch. The process involves using the Lorentz (j×B) force to create gigapascal to terapascal pressures. Liquid lithium is injected in both a cylinder and cone. When the two connect, a circuit with a network of capacitors (referred to here as the pulser) is completed, and a 10-25 MA pulse flows down the lithium. The Z-pinch slams the lithium onto a fission-fusion target. The resulting compression (5-10 by volume) reaches super-criticality and explodes. The expanding plasma is then directed out of the back of the engine by a magnetic nozzle.

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Robert B Adams, Magdalena Allen, Augustin Demonceaux, Glen Doughty, Patrick Giddens, Kimberly Gonzalez, John Kuczek, Kendall Lloyd, Rosemary Williams, Jason Cassibry, Nathan Schilling, Bryan Winterling. The Pulsed Fission-Fusion (PuFF) Engine: Development Status. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20205009102

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