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US 12,188,456 B2Granted
Plasma engine with leptonic energy source
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsEdward Henry Allen, Luke Alexander Uribarri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided herein are various leptonic power sources, leptonic control systems, and leptonic-powered engines. An apparatus includes a leptonic source configured to emit beam electrons to ionize a material into a plasma according to a selectable ionization degree and deposit charge onto a plurality of cathodes in a progressively more negatively charged arrangement to establish an electric field of a selectable intensity in the plasma.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a leptonic source configured to emit beam electrons to ionize a material into a plasma according to a selectable ionization degree and to deposit charge onto a plurality of cathodes in a progressively more negatively charged arrangement to establish an electric field of a selectable intensity in the plasma.
A method, comprising:
- controllably emitting beam electrons from a leptonic source to ionize a material and deposit charge onto a plurality of cathodes in a progressively more negatively charged arrangement to establish an electric field in the material and produce a selectable ionization degree of the material and a selectable intensity of the electric field.
A leptonic source, comprising:
- a containment structure configured to hold isotope ions in a state in which electron capture decay is below a threshold probability;
- a control element configured to selectively induce prompt electron capture decay of a selected portion of the isotope ions to produce gamma radiation for impingement onto a target material and liberation of electrons from the target material;
- and
- wherein the target material configured to emit the electrons into a chamber to ionize a gas into a plasma according to a selectable ionization degree and deposit charge onto a plurality of cathodes in a progressively more negatively charged arrangement to establish an electric field of a selectable intensity, wherein the selected portion of the isotope ions is controlled to achieve the selectable ionization degree and the selectable intensity of the electric field.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.