A concept for direct fusion drive based on centrifugal mirror (CM) confinement of thermonuclear plasmas (DFD-CM) is described. In centrifugal mirrors, electric and magnetic fields are combined to confine the plasma within a rapidly rotating annulus of burning plasma fixed between two mirror magnets. High energy fusion products leave the reactor core at a rate determined by the velocity of plasma rotation and the strength of the mirrors. Those departing through the jet-side mirror deposit their energy in a “warm” plasma that then expands through a magnetic nozzle to deliver jet power in the 100–1000 kW range. Fusion products departing through the power-side mirror are converted to electricity to power the reactor. Moderate thrusts at attractive specific impulses (10,000+ seconds) are possible. Findings are presented on CM reactor dynamics in propulsion applications, to include new insights into the relationship between mirror and centrifugal components of plasma confinement. Additionally, analysis will be presented on reactor operability limits and characterization of viable configurations based on power density, technology constraints, and the ability to self-power. Ongoing research into the physics of the warm plasma will be discussed, to include description of improved fidelity estimates for fusion energy deposition. Finally, considerations for Alfvén’s frozen-in theorem relative to fusion plasmas and magnetic nozzle performance will be outlined.

中文翻译：

---

基于离心镜约束的直接聚变驱动

描述了基于热核等离子体离心镜（CM）约束（DFD-CM）的直接聚变驱动概念。在离心镜中，电场和磁场相结合，将等离子体限制在固定在两个镜磁体之间的快速旋转的燃烧等离子体环内。高能聚变产物离开反应堆堆芯的速度由等离子体旋转速度和镜子的强度决定。那些通过射流侧镜子离开的粒子将能量沉积在“温暖”的等离子体中，然后等离子体通过磁性喷嘴膨胀，以提供 100-1000 kW 范围内的射流功率。通过动力侧镜离开的聚变产物被转化为电力来为反应堆提供动力。可以在有吸引力的比冲（10,000 秒以上）下进行适度的推力。研究结果介绍了推进应用中的 CM 反应堆动力学，包括对等离子体约束的镜子和离心组件之间关系的新见解。此外，还将根据功率密度、技术限制和自供电能力对反应堆可操作性限制和可行配置的特征进行分析。将讨论正在进行的热等离子体物理研究，包括改进聚变能量沉积保真度估计的描述。最后，将概述与聚变等离子体和磁喷嘴性能相关的阿尔文冻结定理的考虑因素。