Method for producing maximum energy flows

A method of producing and directing a high energy flow by releasing energy in the form of photons from a reaction in energy rich reacting substances with a reaction front progressing substantially faster than 10 km/sec. comprising (a) placing a volume of energy rich reacting substances in a reaction chamber having a sidewall, an end wall at one end and an opening at the other end, said sidewall and end wall being reflective to photons;

• (b) introducing photons into said reacting substances adjacent said end wall to initiate a reaction which releases energy as photons which are not in thermal equilibrium with said reacting substances, said reaction producing photon multiplication and the products of said reaction being permeable to the released photons, said released photons having a mean free path for reaction with said reacting .Substances which is short compared to the photon mean free path for absorption;
• (c) reflecting any released photons impinging upon said sidewall and end wall into said reacting substances, said released photons initiating further reaction of said reacting substances to continue said reaction with a reaction front progressing toward said opening at said other end, said reaction front progressing at a velocity v.sub.E in accordance with the equation
• v.sub.E =.lambda..cndot.c/(.lambda.+t.sub.r .cndot.c)
• wherein
• c=the velocity of light
• X=mean free path of photons in said reacting substances
• t.sub.r =mean time interval between the absorption of a photon and the emission of the photons released in the reaction;
• and
• (d) directing released photons generated by said reaction outwardly of said opening at said other end of said chamber in the form of a shock wave, said photons in said shock wave having much of the energy released by said reaction.