Defense Intelligence Reference Document Advanced Nuclear Propulsion For Manned Deep Space Missions

UNCLASSIFIED//FOR QFFI~I l1k Wlili 8HL?/
Calculations done by Muller, Rafelski, and Greiner (Reference 22) show that for
molecular states 3sBr- 3sBr, s3l- 79Au, and 92LJ- 92LJ, a twofold lowering of the distance of
separation leads to a lowering of the electron orbit energy eigenvalues by ~ 0.35 keV
and 1.4 keV, respectively. At a pressure of 100 Mb = 10 14 dyn/cm2 where d/do ~ 1/2,
the result of these calculations can be summarized by (OE in keV)
log /5E = 1.3 x 10-, z - 1.4
replacing equation ( 40), where Z is here the sum of the nuclear charge for both
components of the molecule formed under the high pressure.
,,
p,
"
(42)
The effect the pressure has on the change
in these quasi-molecular configurations is
illustrated in Figure 16, showing a p - d
(pressure-lattice distance) diagram. This
diagram illustrates how the molecular
state is reached during the compression
along the adiabat a at the distance d = de:
where the pressure attains the critical
value p = Pc:, In passing over this
pressure, the electrons fall into the
potential well of the two-center molecule,
releasing their potential energy as a burst
of X-rays. Following its decompression,
the molecule disintegrates along the '---~------------d
lower adiabat b.
If the conjectured superexplosive consists
of just one element, as in the case of the
d,
Figure 16. p-d, Pressure. Inneratomic distance
diagram for the upper atomic and lower molecular
ad1abat.
3sBr - 3sBr reaction or the 92LJ - 92LJ reaction, no special preparation for the
superexplosive is needed. But as the example of AI-FeO thermite reaction shows,
reactions with different atoms can release a much larger amount of energy compared
with other chemical reactions. For the conjectured superexplosives, this means they
have to be prepared as homogeneous mixtures of nano-particle powders, bringing the
reacting atoms as close together as possible.
For the ignition of a thermonuclear reaction, one may consider the following scenario
illustrated in Figure 17. A convergent shock wave launched at the radius R = Ro into a
spherical shell of outer and inner radius Ro, R1 reaches near the radius R = R1 at a
pressure of 100 Mb. After the inward-moving convergent shock wave has reached the
radius R = R1, an outward-moving rarefaction wave is launched from the same radius
R = R1, from which an intense burst of X-rays is emitted. One can then place a
thermonuclear DT target inside the cavity of the radius R = R1, with the target
bombarded, imploded, and ignited by the X-ray pulse. The ignited DT can there serve
as a "hot spot" for the ignition of deuterium.
29
UNCLASSIFIED//P8"1 8PPll!l"'I! l!l!il! 8111!¥