Advanced Space Propulsion Based on the Flow-Stabilized Z-Pinch Fusion Concept

A fusion space thruster based on the flow-stabilized Z-pinch may be possible in the near-term and provide many advantages over other fusion-based thruster concepts. The Zpinch equilibrium is classically unstable to gross disruption modes according to theoretical, numerical, and experimental evidence. However, a new stabilization mechanism has been discovered that can stabilize these modes with plasma flow. The stabilizing mechanism was developed for a Z-pinch plasma equilibrium which has an axial velocity profile that is linear in radius. When the velocity shear exceeds a threshold, the plasma modes are stabilized. The magnitude of the peak velocity is dependent on the mode wavelength but ˙ ! " # $ # $% $% $% &’