Path: ...!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: Julieta Shem <jshem@yaxenu.org>
Newsgroups: sci.misc
Subject: Re: air-breathing plasma engines
Date: Sat, 09 Mar 2024 13:49:51 -0300
Organization: A noiseless patient Spider
Lines: 24
Message-ID: <871q8js634.fsf@yaxenu.org>
References: <usi0ri$2d4ig$1@dont-email.me>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="d3697e664b2fe3b42eda67e412b665fb";
	logging-data="2549276"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org";	posting-account="U2FsdGVkX18YnPdJRa5/B3HUKUjjTNTsx+QOSNLPC60="
Cancel-Lock: sha1:TK0trz/35isTUDOGSNckbHI3uc4=
	sha1:f6z/DSKa9ZCOUSCMdLMWFQDplFc=
Bytes: 1955

JAB <here@is.invalid> writes:

> An engine that can conjure thrust from thin air? We speak to the
> designer
>
> Interview Will satellites be capable of generating their own thrust
> with propellant created out of thin air one day? Scientists at the
> George Washington University (GWU) and Princeton Plasma Physics
> Laboratory reckon so.
>
> https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/09/darpa_apeb_project_interview/

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
The Reg: Can you explain how APEBs work?

​​A.T.: Air goes inside an engine and there's an electron gun that emits
high energy electrons. Those high energy electrons interact with the air
and ionize the particles; it's a chain reaction called ionization. Then
they will be excited and emit light that glows. Plasma is created from
the charges, the positive ions and negative electrons. Now you have
electromagnetic fields, and you have a perpendicular magnetic field. The
charged particles get accelerated by the Lorentz force to generate
thrust.
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---