Abstract
The effect of radiation induced dissociation of hydrogen gas in nuclear rockets is studied. The dissociation degree is obtained by solving rate equations, which include the fast-ion induced dissociation and ionization of atomic and molecular hydrogens. Analytical formulae are used to estimate a change in the viscosity and the specific impulse. We have found that the fast-ion induced dissociation plays an important role in enhancing the specific impulse for nuclear rocket concepts using hydrogen gas at low pressures (< 0.1 MPa) and low temperatures (< 3000 K). It is also shown that the specific impulse is enhanced by mixing helium-3, lithium-6, boron-10, or uranium-235 with hydrogen.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE 28th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, 1992 |
| Publisher | American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1992 |
| Event | AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE 28th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, 1992 - Nashville, United States Duration: Jul 6 1992 → Jul 8 1992 |
Other
| Other | AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE 28th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, 1992 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Nashville |
| Period | 7/6/92 → 7/8/92 |