Sunbeam: Near-Sun Statites as Beam Platforms for Beam-Driven Rockets

TL;DR

This paper proposes using relativistic electron beams as a beamed power source for propulsion, enabling long-range space travel with probes reaching approximately 0.1c, and discusses the physics, design, and challenges involved.

Contribution

It introduces a novel concept of near-Sun statites as beam platforms for beam-driven rockets, highlighting the physics and potential for long-distance space propulsion.

Findings

Relativistic electron beams can propagate over >100 A.U. in space plasma.

A preliminary statite-based beam emitter design is proposed.

Challenges in beam-power application for space propulsion are identified.

Abstract

We outline a method of beamed power for propulsion that utilizes relativistic electron beams. The physics of charged particle beam propagation in the space plasma environment is discussed and the long-range (>100 A.U.) advantage of relativistic electron beams is emphasized. A preliminary statite based beam emitter for powering probes to ~0.1c is proposed and the challenges in beam-power uses are explored.