A Magneto Inertial Fusion (MIF) drive, or MIF engine, is a form of pulsed fusion propulsion used by many interplanetary spacecraft, providing efficient and sustained acceleration in space.
These drives ignite a small fusion fuel pellet to start a reaction which interacts with the strong magnetic fields generated by the drive, acting like a spring to push the craft forwards due to the Lorentz force. These drives can also inject water into their exhaust, generating even more thrust.
MIF drives are only practical for traversing interplanetary space. Although they are quite efficient, the average ship equipped with one of these engines only carries roughly forty days of fuel pellets, and even less water for propellant. For this reason, large carrier spacecraft equipped with
FIT drives are needed to ferry smaller craft through interstellar space.
General Working Principle
MIF drives use a small coilgun to fire multiple fusion fuel pellets a second to an ignition point away from the spacecraft, where the pellet is ignited by a powerful ignition laser. Once ignited, the strong magnetic fields generated by the drive shape the plasma into a jet, which is directed back towards the spacecraft, maximizing thrust. As the plasma tries to expand, the magnetic field accelerates it backwards; imparting a thrust onto the spacecraft due to the Lorentz force.
The magnetic fields generated by MIF drives are also strong enough to provide passive radiation shielding to the spacecraft, redirecting harmful charged particles away from the craft.
Design
MIF drives generally have an inverted conical shape, with most of the exposed portion covered in heat shielding. The bottom or 'tip' of the cone typically is both an opening for the engine's railgun and laser, and generally has an array of three mirrors along the outside edge that can be used for precisely aiming the laser beam.
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