Staged Plasma Gas Compression Guns with Emphasis on Electron Plasma Modes for Facilitating Nuclear Fueling of Remote Relativistic Spacecraft. - James M. Essig - Bog

The author proposes theoretical concept validation of a staged compression gun able to accelerate projectiles and spacecraft to Keplerian velocities and even to relativistic velocities. The fundamental concept is to use a space based linear accelerator to propel small fission/fusion devices to produce a propellant runway. Prior theoretical art explores the basic concepts of fusion runways. Accordingly, nuclear fusion fuel pellets or other fuel pellets would be distributed along a substantially linear path for interception by a spacecraft. The fuel pellets would then be captured and processed in nuclear fusion reactors or otherwise detonated in proximity to a spacecraft. While various means of distributing fuel pellets for deep space travel has been proposed, this paper proposes novel methods of dispensing the pellets.