Meta-material based nuclear structure applications in beamed thrust and space energy harvesting

Abstract

Novel meta-material for direct nuclear energy conversion into electricity, may drastically improve the energy supply and usage in space. It resembles a super-capacitor loaded by radiation and discharged by electric current. It may be produced as fission nuclear reactor fuel, containing actinides as fissile material, or as tiles with or without actinides that may be used to harvest the kinetic energy of incoming radiation. The tiles may be morphed to coat the fusion reactor chamber or to form antenna devices to harvest cosmic radiation energy. Specialized antenna may receive directed power accelerated beams for remote energy transfer and for propulsion by recycling the beam energy to harvest its thrust. The limitation are the efficiency of conversion of beam energy in the tile's meta-material and of the harvested energy back in the accelerator structure on shuttle to generate the returned beam. An electron beam should be mixed in the beam to avoid shuttle's polarization and maintain the beam stability and convergence.This development is in the conceptual stage; some simulations and experiments for the meta-materials have been successfully performed but more research is needed, in order to reach the technologic maturation and deployment. NomenclatureCIci -Conductor with high electron density, Insulator, conductor with low electron density, insulator DNECE -Direct Nuclear Energy Conversion into Electricity