Yep! This is one reason why I argue we should do lowish power density fusion, in space, using the vacuum of space. There’s a nice set of existence proofs, and the gentle magnetic fields do a much better job of confining energyhttps://twitter.com/michael_nielsen/status/1223291031338115072 …
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that's the idea, anyway
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it could be *vastly* better than chemical rockets for interplanetary. the rocket equation flips around -> increasing exhaust velocity yields exponentially greater payload. trips to mars go from 2 yrs 1% payload to like 50% payload 90 days. might flip the bit on feasibility.
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you have to use an aneutronic fuel system like D-He3 or D-D or P-B11, so that you can direct the power out as charged particles, and so that neutrons don't heat your coil or radiator.
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with all of that, you end up with magnetic confinement for extremely low mass. heat the plasma with lasers (cyclotron heating?) or RF and use a cathode ray / accelerator to neutralize to create thrust.
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