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Elsevier

Acta Astronautica

Volume 191, February 2022, Pages 227-234
Acta Astronautica

Research paper
The Fishback ramjet revisited

Author links open overlay panelPeterSchattschneider^aAlbert A.Jackson
^b
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2021.10.039Get rights and content
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Highlights

*

    Fishback's proposal of magnetic scooping for a Bussard ramjet is
    physically feasible.

*

    Absurdly long solenoids are needed.

*

    The cut-off speeds are orders of magnitude lower than thought
    before.

*

    Visiting the galactic center in a Bussard ramjet within a
    lifetime is unrealizable.

Abstract

In 1969, John Ford Fishback proposed a solution for the interstellar
ramjet with magnetic scooping. With the exception of two papers
published in the early 1970s, this model has not been revisited up to
now for viability. Here, we analyze Fishback's axial scoop field
configuration. Computer simulations prove its functionality, albeit
with absurdly long magnetic coils when reasonable thrust is to be
achieved. Based on the Maxwell stress tensor we obtain a much lower
upper bound for the cut-off speed at a given acceleration of the
ramjet than published before. Our results indicate that there are
severe engineering problems with the magnetic collection process. It
is very unlikely that even Kardashev Civilizations of type II might
build magnetic ramjets with axial solenoids.

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