Primary Intelligence Asset

LANL FissionPlasmaPropulsion 1995

Declassified Public record OCR verified
INTEL

Executive Summary

This document investigates using magnetic fields to control and contain hot nuclear fuel in advanced gas-core fission rockets to prevent the fuel from leaking or mixing with the exhaust. Researchers specifically analyze a magnetic shape called a 'spheromak' to see if it can keep the reactor stable and efficient for high-performance space travel.
Analysis Confidence: High
ST_CODE: 7540F0

System Metadata

Source ID

DOC-LANL_FIS

Process Date

8/9/2026

Integrity Hash

SHA256-40hk862pcjm...

Indexer Status

COMPLETE

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INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS

Summary

This document investigates using magnetic fields to control and contain hot nuclear fuel in advanced gas-core fission rockets to prevent the fuel from leaking or mixing with the exhaust. Researchers specifically analyze a magnetic shape called a 'spheromak' to see if it can keep the reactor stable and efficient for high-performance space travel.

Origin

The document was authored by R.A. Gerwin, R.A. Nebel, and D.I. Poston of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), specifically the Theoretical Division (T-15) and Technology and Safety Assessment Division (TSA-12). It was presented at the 31st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit in San Diego, CA.

Purpose

The research aims to address critical instabilities in gas-core fission propulsion, where fuel and propellant tend to mix and degrade engine performance. The authors explore using magnetic configurations, like mirrors and spheromaks, to 'stiffen' the fuel-propellant interface and achieve non-inductive sustainment of the fissioning plasma.

Why It Matters

" This document is a vital link between traditional nuclear propulsion and advanced Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) research often associated with Field-Reversed Configurations (FRC) and fusion energy. It demonstrates LANL's mid-90s interest in using sophisticated plasma confinement techniques—normally reserved for fusion—to solve fundamental issues in high-thrust fission propulsion, a precursor to more exotic 'black' aerospace propulsion concepts. The mention of uranium-lithium (235U/7Li) plasma mixtures highlights technical crossover with compact reactor designs and high-energy-density physics. "

Key Claims

  • › The paper was presented at the 31st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit held July 10-12, 1995.
  • › The authors estimate a Lundquist number (S) as large as 100 in near-critical 235U plasmas diluted with 7Li.
  • › The document is identified by the Los Alamos National Laboratory report number LA-UR-95-2674.
  • › The research explores the use of 3D resistive MHD simulations to observe dynamo activity at a Lundquist number as small as 200.
  • › The authors propose that magnetic guiding of the plasma-fuel flow is feasible for moderate field strengths of approximately 0.1 Tesla.

Contribution to the Field

This paper identifies the Lundquist number as a key figure of merit for sustaining a spheromak in a nuclear environment and estimates its value within near-critical uranium-lithium plasmas.

External Primary Sources (5)

Verified external sources that corroborate the claims in this document.

patent
US Patent 9,947,420 B2 — Magnetic field plasma confinement for compact fusion power
conference 2019
Recent Achievements in the C-2W Field-Reversed Configuration Experiment — APS DPP19
TAE Technologies
paper 2019-06-05
Formation of hot, stable, long-lived field-reversed configuration plasmas on the C-2W device — Nuclear Fusion
H. Gota et al.
paper 2024-12-20
Producing entangled photon pairs and quantum squeezed states in plasmas — Physical Review E
Kenan Qu, Nathaniel J. Fisch
preprint
Producing entangled photon pairs and quantum squeezed states in plasmas — arXiv
Kenan Qu, Nathaniel J. Fisch

Full Transcript

Transcript

Page 1 of 3

INTRODUCTION

, LA.u R-g5-2674 me: Auitw(s): , /k’ss29L.J Los Alamos NATIONALLABORATORY bvvr -[uw{c?=- ‘/ POSSIBILITIES FORMAGNETICCONTROLOFFISSION PLASMAPROPULSION R.A.Gamin,R.A.Nebel,Theoretical Division,T-15 D.I.Poston,TSA-12 Los Almos National Laboratory 31STAIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEEJOINTPROPULSIONCONFERENCE ANDEXHIBIT,JULY10-12,1995/San Diego,CA DISTRIBUTIONOFTHISDOCUMEWISUNLIMIT~~~ AIAA95-2903 Possibilitiesfor Magnetic Controlof Fission Plasma Propulsion R.A.Gerwin,D.I.Poston,and R.A.Nebel Los Alamos National Laboratory Los 31st AIAAIASMEBAEIASEE Joint Propulsion Conferenceand Exhibit Juiy10-12,1995/San Dis$o,CA Forponnloalonto OOPYorropubllah,oontoottho Amortow IInotltutoof Aoronoutlooand Aotronout Joo 070L’#nfant Promoni& $.W.,Waohln@on,D.C.2~4 . Possi Mit&afor Magnet&Co Etroiof F&aio IIPlasma Propulsion R.A.Gerwin*,D,I.Poston**,and R.A.Nebel* La Afamos National Laboratov,Los Afamos,New Mexico

Cited In (23 references)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this document? ▾
This document investigates using magnetic fields to control and contain hot nuclear fuel in advanced gas-core fission rockets to prevent the fuel from leaking or mixing with the exhaust. Researchers specifically analyze a magnetic shape called a 'spheromak' to see if it can keep the reactor stable a...
Where does this document come from? ▾
The document was authored by R.A. Gerwin, R.A. Nebel, and D.I. Poston of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), specifically the Theoretical Division (T-15) and Technology and Safety Assessment Division (TSA-12). It was presented at the 31st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit in San Diego, CA.
What is the research purpose of this document? ▾
The research aims to address critical instabilities in gas-core fission propulsion, where fuel and propellant tend to mix and degrade engine performance. The authors explore using magnetic configurations, like mirrors and spheromaks, to 'stiffen' the fuel-propellant interface and achieve non-inductive sustainment of the fissioning plasma.
Where is this document cited in the investigation? ▾
This document is referenced in 23 places across the investigation: 21 Dossiers, 1 Glossary Terms, 1 Research Rounds. See the "Cited In" section below for the complete list of pages that reference this document.