In the aerospace field, the propulsion method of spacecraft in a vacuum environment is a very important scientific and technological research and development direction.

The spacecraft is in a vacuum environment, and without the reaction force to push the air, conventional propulsion methods no longer work, and more advanced propulsion methods must be studied.

Electric propulsion is a very important field.

Electric propulsion is a technology that uses electric energy to heat, dissolve and accelerate propellant to form a high-speed jet to generate propulsion.

Among electric propulsion technologies, the ones that are relatively mature and have broad market application prospects are Hall electric propulsion and ion electric propulsion.

The advantage of ion electric propulsion is that it has a higher specific impulse, but the large size of the ion electric thruster is not conducive to the layout of the spacecraft, and the ion electric propulsion has high process requirements and low reliability.

Currently, Hall electric propulsion is the most respected propulsion method in the world, and it occupies an absolutely dominant position. It is famous for its high specific impulse, large thrust, high thrust density, and simple and reliable system.

In the fields of GEO satellites, low-orbit satellites and deep space detectors, Hall electric propulsion has been widely used to perform tasks such as position keeping, orbit transfer, orbit adjustment and deep space main propulsion. So far, it has been used in 148 satellites internationally.

There are 673 Hall thrusters used on spacecraft.

For example, in Amrican's Starlink satellite constellation, each satellite is equipped with a Hall electric propulsion system.

Hall electric thrusters can achieve high-power ignition operation with a small volume and mass. The size of a 100kW Hall electric thruster will basically not exceed 0.5m. It has low technical risks and good technological inheritance, so it is a natural choice.

The mainstream choice for space thrusters.

So when it comes to the propulsion method of the space carrier in space, the first thing that people in the research team think of is the Hall thruster.

However, after careful discussion, they believed that the specific impulse of the Hall electric thruster was still too low.

Hall electric thrusters can indeed achieve efficient acceleration, but there are two disadvantages when placed on an aerospace carrier. One disadvantage is that the thrust is still insufficient.

The space carrier will be a very large spacecraft.

Using Hall electric thrusters as power requires the development of ultra-high-power Hall electric thrusters, but the problem is that Hall electric propulsion is the key technology to be researched.

Various countries have spent a lot of money and continued to invest in research for more than fifty years. However, until now, the operating power of the largest Hall electric thruster has only reached the hundred-kilowatt level, which is very difficult to accelerate the ultra-large spacecraft.

The effect is naturally limited.

"Let's imagine……"

"A super-large space carrier accelerates like a snail in space, which is completely unacceptable." Paul Phil-Jones gave a very vivid description.

The others couldn't help but nod together.

Helen followed up and said, "The light pressure engine is the most suitable!"

When it comes to light pressure engines, everyone else's eyes can't help but light up. Light pressure engines only exist in theory so far.

This kind of engine relies on the directional flow of photons to generate thrust.

The photon rocket theory was proposed as early as 1953. According to Einstein's law of relativity, mass and energy are related, and mass can be converted into kinetic energy.

Therefore, the matter-antimatter annihilation reaction can be used to completely convert mass into kinetic energy.

Positrons and electrons combine and annihilate to produce two or more gamma rays (photons), and protons and antiprotons combine and annihilate to produce two or more mesons.

These mesons are unstable and quickly decay into electrons (or positrons) and neutrinos.

Mesons, electrons and positrons are charged and are ejected at a speed equal to the speed of light (or close to the speed of light) under the action of a strong electric field, thereby generating thrust.

Because it involves antimatter, photon rockets naturally can only exist in theory, but the theory of annihilation particles and the mutual annihilation of matter and antimatter has almost the same effect.

Both convert mass into energy.

"Our experiment found that neutrons were completely converted into energy, and most of the energy was in the form of photons..."

"So, the annihilation particle device and the light pressure engine are a perfect match!"

"Perhaps as long as the device is modified, for example, by pressurizing and ejecting photons in one direction, and then raising the temperature, it can bring huge power!"

Along the way, people in the research team discussed endlessly.

Wang Hao sat next to him and listened together, and couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. There is no doubt that for research, hobbies are indeed the biggest motivation.

When discussing vacuum power, they quickly thought of the most suitable power solution for the space carrier.

The light pressure engine is indeed very compatible with the annihilation particle energy device. It can even be said that it is a complete solution for annihilation particle energy.

only……

First there was the light pressure rocket theory, and only now are there annihilation particle devices.

"Is this a coincidence?"

"Perhaps it's time for us to study space carriers?"

Wang Hao unconsciously shook his head.

Although the theory is indeed very consistent, in fact, the reason why the photon rocket engine has remained in theory is not just because it involves the issue of antimatter.

Technology also involves another issue-temperature requirements.

To obtain a large enough light pressure in a photon source requires a high temperature of 50,000 to 250,000 degrees Celsius. So far, technology has not been able to solve the problem of such high temperatures.

Of course.

The annihilation particle process can achieve such high temperatures. The question is, how to control it?

That’s a temperature of over 50,000 degrees Celsius!

Even though the light pressure engine is like a vacuum power technology tailor-made for annihilation particle devices, one problem after another still needs to be solved in order to truly convert photons into power.

Like a high temperature issue...

It seems there is no solution at all.

…

The research team finally returned to the West Sea.

Wang Hao first went home to rest for a few days, enjoying family life with his wife and children, and giving himself a good vacation.

After that, I returned to Xihai University.

When he walked into the Mason Tree Laboratory, he heard Paul Phil-Jones and Ding Zhiqiang discussing the issue of high temperature control. "It is indeed difficult to reach a high temperature of 50,000 degrees Celsius, but the original theory may not be correct, maybe thousands

Celsius is enough."

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Moreover, we also have annihilation field technology."

"The light pressure of different annihilation force fields may have different temperature requirements."

"Ding Zhiqiang, tell Wang Hao that you are his favorite student. Maybe he will listen to you and we can study together..."

"The space carrier, of course it can't use Hall thrusters that are so rubbish that they have to be thrown away!"

"..."

Ding Zhiqiang was sitting directly in the direction of Wang Hao.

He was listening to what Paul Phil Jones said, and when he raised his head and saw Wang Hao walking over, he simply said, "Paul, you'd better talk to Teacher Wang yourself."

He stood up and waved hello to Wang Hao.

Paul Phil-Jones turned his head awkwardly and said something even more embarrassing, "Wang Hao, when did you come?"

"Just arrived..."

Wang Haodao, "I heard you were talking about a light pressure engine? Studying temperature issues? Paul, what you said makes sense, but we need experiments."

"There are still too few experiments at present, and we don't know what kind of energy intensity is controllable in the device."

"In the past few days, I have also studied the theory of light pressure rockets. We have annihilation force field technology, and the conditions are indeed different, but it still requires a lot of experiments."

"but……"

Paul Phil-Jones suddenly looked forward to it.

Wang Hao continued amusingly, "If you are very interested, you can also do some experimental design, or device design, in advance."

"Big experiments cannot be done, but some small experiments can still be done."

"When the time comes, I will apply for a project."

"real?"

Paul Phil Jones's eyes lit up when he heard this. He immediately said excitedly, "I'll go study it right away." After saying that, he immediately went upstairs, then turned around and asked, "Ding Zhiqiang, do you want to

Join my 'Super Space Battleship Power Thruster Design Group'?"

"...?"

"The name I thought of on the spur of the moment is pretty cool, right?"

"..."

Ding Zhiqiang glanced at Wang Hao hesitantly.

Wang Hao nodded slightly towards him and said with a smile, "If you want to join, just join. If you are also interested."

"That's okay!"

Ding Zhiqiang took a breath.

Who would say no to the super space battleship project? Even though it sounds a bit mediocre, it’s really ‘cool’, okay!
To be continued...