Damage to Relativistic Interstellar Spacecraft by ISM Impact Gas Accumulation
| Autor: | Alexander Cohen, Maria G. Pelizzo, Jon Drobny, Maxim Umansky, Philip Lubin, Davide Curreli |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Materials science
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences Hydrogen chemistry.chemical_element FOS: Physical sciences Space Radiation Astronomy & Astrophysics 01 natural sciences Atomic materials Particle and Plasma Physics Physics - Space Physics Interstellar medium 0103 physical sciences Breakthrough Starshot Nuclear 010303 astronomy & astrophysics Helium Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics 0105 earth and related environmental sciences protons Spacecraft business.industry Molecular Astronomy and Astrophysics Mechanics ions irradiation Space Physics (physics.space-ph) chemistry Space and Planetary Science propulsion Liquid bubble Deep space probes business Space probes Relativistic speed Astronomical and Space Sciences Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural) |
| Zdroj: | ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, vol 908, iss 2 The Astrophysical Journal, vol 908, iss 2 The Astrophysical journal 908 (2021). doi:10.3847/1538-4357/abd4ec info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:Drobny, Jon; Cohen, Alexander N.; Curreli, Davide; Lubin, Philip; Pelizzo, Maria G.; Umansky, Maxim/titolo:Damage to Relativistic Interstellar Spacecraft by ISM Impact Gas Accumulation/doi:10.3847%2F1538-4357%2Fabd4ec/rivista:The Astrophysical journal/anno:2021/pagina_da:/pagina_a:/intervallo_pagine:/volume:908 |
| DOI: | 10.3847/1538-4357/abd4ec |
| Popis: | As part of the NASA Starlight collaboration, we look at the implications of impacts with the interstellar medium (ISM) on a directed energy-driven relativistic spacecraft. The spacecraft experiences a stream of MeV/nucleon impacts along the forward edge primarily from hydrogen and helium nuclei. The accumulation of implanted slowly diffusing gas atoms in solids drives damage through the meso-scale processes of bubble formation, blistering, and exfoliation. This results in macroscopic changes to material properties and, in the cases of blistering and exfoliation, material erosion via blister rupture and delamination. Relativistic hydrogen and helium at constant velocity will stop in the material at a similar depth, as predicted by Bethe–Bloch stopping and subsequent simulations of the implantation distribution, leading to a mixed hydrogen and helium system similar to that observed within fusion plasma-facing components. However, the difference in depth of near-surface gas atoms with respect to the direction of exposure means that previously developed empirical models of blistering cannot be used to predict bubble formation or blistering onset. In this work, we present a model of the local gas concentration threshold for material blistering from exposure to the ISM at relativistic speeds. Expected effects on the spacecraft and mitigation strategies are also discussed. The same considerations apply to the Breakthrough Starshot mission. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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