MUON-CATALYZED FUSION ON THIN-ATMOSPHERE PLANETS OR MOONS USING COSMIC RAYS FOR MUON GENERATION

Abstract

In various units, a coating of chips or pellets comprising a deuterium-containing micro-fusion fuel material produce energetic reaction products and/or EM radiation in the presence of an ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons generated from the cosmic rays. The chips may contain solid Li.sup.6D or encapsulate liquid or frozen D.sub.2O. Micro-fusion reactions proceed via muon-catalyzed fusion, particle-target fusion, or both. These may produce usable heat for a space heater to heat surrounding spaces directly or communicate via circulating fluid with a heat exchanger located for more remote heating of spaces away from the generator. EM radiation can be converted to electricity, either directly or via heating of a circulating liquid and thermoelectric conversion. Mechanical work may also be performed by the energetic reaction products, wherein a coated panel mounted on a transport vehicle may serve as a propulsion unit, the energetic reaction products directly providing horizontal thrust or providing electricity via heating (as before) to drive the vehicle. Other mechanical devices include paddle wheels coated with the chips to generate rotary motion, and levers coated on one lever arm to produce a beneficial force at the other lever arm.

Claims

1. A space heater usable in the presence of an ambient flux of cosmic rays, comprising: a plurality of plates alternating with spacers supported on a rod; and a coating of chips disposed upon an upper surface of each plate, the chips comprising a deuterium-containing fuel material that, when exposed to and interacting with the ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons generated from the cosmic rays, produce energetic reaction products together with usable heat.

2. The space heater as in claim 1, wherein energetic reaction products heat the plates containing the chips.

3. The space heater as in claim 2, wherein the rod and plates have passages therein filled with circulating fluid to receive the heat, the circulating fluid being in communication with a heat exchanger.

4. The space heater as in claim 1, further comprising a set of one or more tubes arranged around the plates and their coating of chips to receive the energetic reaction products and then transfer generated heat to fluid circulating within the set of tubes, the circulating fluid being in communication with a heat exchanger.

5. The space heater as in claim 1, further comprising a metal lining disposed around the plates and their coating of chips to receive the energetic reaction products and then transfer generated heat to surrounding spaces.

6. The space heater as in claim 1, wherein the plates are circular disks.

7. The space heater as in claim 1, wherein the plates are conical with a downward-projecting angle selected to expose a maximum area of the upper surfaces of the plates coated with the chips to the ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons.

8. The space heater as in claim 1, wherein the rod and chip-coated plates are situated in a shaft and are adapted to be raised and lowered responsive to user-selected temperature settings and temperature sensors for variable exposure to cosmic rays and muons, variable heat generation, and variable heat transfer.

9. The space heater as in claim 1, wherein the chips contain solid Li.sup.6D.

10. The space heater as in claim 1, wherein the chips encapsulate liquid or frozen D.sub.2O.

11. An electrical generator usable in the presence of an ambient flux of cosmic rays, comprising: a concave mirror having a first focal region and a second focal region, the mirror being reflective of EM radiation generated by any of muon-catalyzed and particle-target micro-fusion reactions; a strip situated at the first focal region and coated with chips comprising a deuterium-containing fuel material, that, when exposed to and interacting with the ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons generated from the cosmic rays, produce EM radiation; and an EM radiation receptive unit situated at the second focal region adapted to convert received EM radiation into electricity.

12. The electrical generator as in claim 11, wherein the EM radiation receptive unit comprises an x-ray absorber and electron collector unit.

13. The electrical generator as in claim 11, wherein the EM radiation receptive unit comprises tubes with circulating fluid that is heated by received EM radiation at the second focal region, the circulating fluid driving a generator.

14. The electrical generator as in claim 11, wherein the chips coating the strip at the first focal region contain solid Li.sup.6D.

15. The electrical generator as in claim 11, wherein the chips coating the strip at the first focal region encapsulate liquid or frozen D.sub.2O.

16. A propulsion unit for a transport vehicle that is usable in the presence of an ambient flux of cosmic rays, comprising: a panel mounted on the transport vehicle; and a coating of chips disposed on an upper surface of the panel, the chips comprising a deuterium-containing fuel material that, when exposed to and interacting with the ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons generated from the cosmic rays, produce energetic reaction products.

17. The propulsion unit as in claim 16, wherein the panel is oriented at a selected angle from the horizontal such that the energetic reaction products provide a horizontal drive force or thrust to the transport vehicle.

18. The propulsion unit as in claim 17, wherein the selected angle is 45 from horizontal.

19. The propulsion unit as in claim 16, wherein the panel is heated by the energetic reaction products, the propulsion unit having a thermoelectric unit to convert the heat to electricity for driving the transport vehicle.

20. The propulsion unit as in claim 16, wherein the chips coating the panel contain solid Li.sup.6D.

21. The propulsion unit as in claim 16, wherein the chips coating the panel encapsulate liquid or frozen D.sub.2O.

22. A unit for producing rotary motion for doing physical work, the unit usable in the presence of an ambient flux of cosmic rays, comprising: a paddle wheel having a plurality of paddles brought successively into an interaction region; a coating of chips disposed on one surface of each paddle that is an upper surface whenever the paddle is in the interaction region, the chips comprising a deuterium-containing fuel material that, when exposed to and interacting with the ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons generated from the cosmic rays in the interactive region, produce energetic reaction products providing a downward drive force or thrust to turn the paddle wheel; and shielding material positioned above the paddle wheel with an opening to let cosmic rays and muons only into the interaction region.

23. The unit for producing rotary motion as in claim 22, wherein the size or location of the opening in the shielding material is variable to allow a selective amount of cosmic rays and muons into the interaction region to control rotary speed of the paddle wheel.

24. The unit for producing rotary motion as in claim 22, wherein the chips coating the paddles contain solid Li.sup.6D.

25. The unit for producing rotary motion as in claim 22, wherein the chips coating the paddles encapsulate liquid or frozen D.sub.2O.

26. A mechanical lever usable in the presence of an ambient flux of cosmic rays for lifting a load, comprising: a fulcrum and two opposed lever arms, a first lever arm adapted to accept a load to be lifted; a coating of a chips disposed on an upper surface of a second lever arm, the chips comprising a deuterium-containing fuel material that, when exposed to and interacting with the ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons generated from the cosmic rays, produce energetic reaction products providing a downward drive force or thrust to the second lever arm and a lifting force to the first lever arm; and shielding selectively movable over the first lever arm to control the amount of the ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons interacting with the chips.

27. The mechanical lever as in claim 26, wherein the chips coating the second lever arm contain solid Li.sup.6D.

28. The mechanical lever as in claim 26, wherein the chips coating the second lever arm encapsulate liquid or frozen D.sub.2O.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of the main elements of two space heater embodiments, one with coated plates in the form of circular disks and the other with coated plates in conical form with a selected downward-projecting angle.

[0018] FIG. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing main space heater elements with passages filled with circulating fluid.

[0019] FIG. 1D is a schematic plan view showing tubes with circulating fluid arranged around the main space heater elements.

[0020] FIG. 1E is a schematic plan view showing a lining disposed around the plates of the main space heater elements.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a subterranean dwelling heated by the space heater of any of FIGS. 1A-1E, wherein the coated plates are selectively raised or lowered for variable exposure to cosmic rays and muons, variable heat generation, variable heat transfer to the dwelling.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic side plan view of an electrical generator with a coated strip at one mirror focus and an EM radiation receptive unit at a second mirror focus.

[0023] FIG. 4 is perspective view of a transport vehicle equipped with a coated panel serving as a propulsion unit.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a side schematic view of a paddle wheel unit for producing rotary motion, wherein paddles are coated.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a side schematic view of a mechanical lever for lifting a load, wherein one lever arm is coated.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a graph of cosmic ray flux at the Earth surface versus cosmic ray energy, after very significant cosmic ray absorption by Earth's atmosphere has occurred.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 1A-1E, one possible use for muon-catalyzed or particle-target micro-fusion is as a fusion chip space heater usable in the presence of ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons, e.g. on the Martian surface. For example, a series of a dozen plates or disks slid onto a rod, and alternating with spacers, may have tiny chips of micro-fusion fuel bonded to those plates or disks. In one possible embodiment seen in FIG. 1A, the main space heater element comprises a plurality of plates 13 alternating with spacers 15 supported on a rod 11. A coating 17 of chips is disposed upon an upper surface of each plate 13. The chips comprise a deuterium-containing fuel material (such as Li.sup.6D or D.sub.2O) that, when exposed to and interacting with the ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons generated from the cosmic rays, produce energetic micro-fusion reaction products together with usable heat. In FIG. 1A, the plates 13 are in the form of circular disks. However, in an alternate embodiment seen in FIG. 1B, plates 23 are conical with a downwardly-projecting angle. That angle may be selected to expose a maximum area of the upper surface of plates 23 and of the chips coating that surface to the ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons.

[0028] In either case, the chips may contain solid Li.sup.6D or may encapsulate liquid or frozen D.sub.2O. However, even a Li.sup.6D chip material should be coated with an inert material to protect it against adverse chemical reaction during manufacture, transport and in the launch vehicle. The plates containing the fusion chip material should also be shielded against premature interactions with cosmic rays during its long travel to its destination. When subject to cosmic ray collisions, the disks become hot from the resulting fusion reactions. The optimum size of the tiny chips and the spacing between them can be determined with routine experimentation to ensure an adequate chain of fusion events that generate useful heat without runaway fusion.

[0029] As seen in FIG. 1C, the rod 31 and/or coated plates 33 (in whatever form, i.e. circular or conical) may have passages 35 therein filled with circulating fluid 37 to receive the heat generated by the reaction products. The circulating fluid 37 is in communication with a heat exchanger (not shown) that can be relatively remote from the main reaction elements 31 and 33.

[0030] Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 1D, a set of tubes 41 may be arranged around the coated plates 43 to receive the energetic reaction products 45. The tubes 41 are filled with a circulating fluid 47 which is heated when the tubes 41 absorb the kinetic energy from the reaction products 45. The circulating fluid is communication with a heat exchanger 49 that can be relatively remote from the main reaction elements 43.

[0031] Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 1E, a metal lining 51 may be disposed around the coated plates 53 to receive the energetic reaction products 55 and then transfer the heat generated in the lining 51 to surrounding spaces 57.

[0032] Thus, a fusion chip space heater can be created and seated on the Martian surface, where the fusion source material itself could be a cosmic ray target for the creation of muons, or where a separate cosmic ray target may be provided immediately adjacent to the fusion chip source material. Additionally, many muons naturally generated in the Martian atmosphere will arrive at the surface before decaying so as to be available to interact with the fusion source material. The kinetic energy of the fusion products can be transferred as heat to a metal lining, or tubes of water coupled to a heat exchanger. The kinetic energy could also be directly converted into electricity by any of a number of techniques including electrostatic collection. Photoelectric conversion of electromagnetic radiation may be possible using concentrically nested X-ray absorber and electron collector sheets (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 7,482,607 and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2013/0125963).

[0033] The space heater would be useful for providing warmth to designated spaces, such as mountain tops and underground dwellings 60 of a Mars colony. As seen in FIG. 2, the unit 61 can be situated in a shaft 63 leading to the surface 62, raised to the surface for exposure to the cosmic rays and muons, and lowered responsive to thermostatic sensors 65 in the dwelling 60 to provide more or less heat transfer from the unit to the dwellings. It could also be used to melt ice. Thus, as seen, the rod and chip-coated plates 61 are situated in the shaft 63. The unit 61 is adapted to be raised and lowered responsive to user-selected temperature settings and temperature sensors 65. As the unit 61 is raised or lowered, it obtains variable exposure to cosmic rays and muons, e.g. more when raised and less when lowered, and consequently variable heat generation. Likewise, the amount of heat transfer to the dwelling might depend upon the raising or lowering of the unit 61, e.g. if the unit's plates or disks, or a surrounding liner, directly heats surrounding spaces.

[0034] In yet another possible construction, shown in FIG. 3, an electrical generator 71 can make use of the cosmic-ray and muon-heating of the fuel chips. Thus, a concave (e.g. ellipsoidal) mirror 73 is provided with a first focal region F1 and a second focal region F2. The mirror 73 is reflective of EM radiation generated by any of muon-catalyzed and particle-target micro-fusion reactions. A rectangular or square plate or strip 75, e.g. a few centimeters on a side, is situated at the first focal region F1. The strip 75 is coated with chips comprising deuterium-containing fuel material 76 (e.g. Li.sup.6D or D.sub.2O). A flux of muons generated from cosmic ray energetic proton collisions in the atmosphere hits the target and produces muon-catalyzed micro-fusion energy, some of which is electromagnetic (EM) radiation 77. Note that any cosmic rays reaching the planetary mountain tops intact can also generate muons when they collide with the fusion chip target. The EM radiation 77 is directed by the mirror 73 to a second focal location F2, where an EM receptive unit 79 is situated that is adapted to convert the received EM radiation into electricity. For example, the EM receptive unit 79 can comprise photovoltaic cells, or an x-ray absorber and electron collector unit, either of which convert the EM radiation 77 directly into electricity. The electricity can be stored in a battery for later use. Alternatively, the EM receptive unit might comprise tubes with circulating fluid (e.g. water) that is heated by the received EM radiation 77. The heated water can drive a generator or thermoelectric device, if desired, or can be supplied to a heat exchanger, or used as a source of hot water. For ease of transport through space, the mirror 73 may be composed of a flexible memory material that unfolds to the desired shape when deployed at its destination.

[0035] In yet another possible application, if the reaction rate can be optimized, the series of controlled fusion micro-explosions could be used to propel wheels or pistons to achieve physical motion (similar to driving the paddles of a water wheel or pistons of a combustion engine), where a surface to be propelled by the micro-explosions is coated with the fusion fuel material and exposed to cosmic rays and the cosmic-ray-generated muons. For example, as seen in FIG. 4, a transport vehicle 81 (such as one similar to existing Martian rovers) has one or more fusion panels 83 attached to it. The transport vehicle 81 would normally have other equipment attached to it, such as cameras 82, antennae 84, instrument packages 85, and an electronics box 86. In whatever way the vehicle is equipped, the fusion panel(s) 83 has fusion fuel pellets or chips 87 (e.g. of Li.sup.6D or encapsulated D.sub.2O) adhered or otherwise mounted to an upper surface of the panel 83. Cosmic rays (and generated muons) 89 arrive vertically and interact with the fuel chip material 87, producing energetic reaction products 90. For direct propulsion, the panel may be oriented at 45 to produce maximum horizontal drive force from the fusion products 90 for vehicle motion 91. Alternatively, for conversion of fusion heat into electrical power to drive a motor, panels would best be oriented horizontally.

[0036] FIG. 5 illustrates the paddle wheel concept for achieving rotary motion. A paddle wheel 95 has a plurality of paddles 97 brought successively into an interaction region 99 where it is exposed to incoming cosmic rays and muons 101. Each paddle 97 has fusion fuel chips 98 attached on one side (the upper-facing side when rotated into the interaction region). Shielding material 103 is positioned above the paddle wheel 95 but has an opening 105 to let cosmic rays and muons 101 into the interaction region 99. Fusion products from the cosmic ray interaction generate a downward thrust that turns the paddle wheel 95. Moving the shielding 103 horizontally, or otherwise adjusting the size or position of the opening 105, so that less of the paddle 97 interacts with cosmic rays 101 can control the rotary speed of the wheel 95.

[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates still another possible use of cosmic-ray/muon catalyzed micro-fusion for doing physical work, in this case lifting of loads for mining or excavation. A mechanical lever 111 has a fulcrum 113 with a first lever arm 115, on one side of the fulcrum 113, coated on an upper surface with the micro-fusion fuel chips 117. A load 121 to be lifted is placed on a second lever arm 119 on the opposite side of the fulcrum 113. Cosmic rays and muons arrive vertically from above, interact with the coating of fuel chips 117 and generate fusion events that provide a downward propulsion force to the first lever arm 115, thereby lifting the load 121 on the second lever arm 119. Adaptations of this basic machine will optimize the mechanical advantage for a particular lifting operation.