Ionize air and repell away from it with magnetic field
Ionize air and repell away from it with magnetic field
(OP)
Question from a complete layman:
Would it be possible to build a propulsion system that continually ionizes air with a laser or high voltage und uses a strong magnetc field to push itself away from the ionized air?
If the ionization rate of "new" air is high and quick enough, this should work in a way similar to the rotor of a helicopter, no?
- lestu
Would it be possible to build a propulsion system that continually ionizes air with a laser or high voltage und uses a strong magnetc field to push itself away from the ionized air?
If the ionization rate of "new" air is high and quick enough, this should work in a way similar to the rotor of a helicopter, no?
- lestu





RE: Ionize air and repell away from it with magnetic field
RE: Ionize air and repell away from it with magnetic field
RE: Ionize air and repell away from it with magnetic field
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_thruster
The relative amount of thrust to electric field requirement makes ion thrust impractical for flight due to the weight required to generate the electric field.
Using ionized air for aerodynamic purposes in the atmosphere has been discussed here and you'll find some links if you look.
RE: Ionize air and repell away from it with magnetic field
So it is possible to barely lift the propulsion system itself, but not any significant payload. Unless there were "unlimited" amounts of energy available and more efficient ways to create strong magnetic fields with lighter materials.
It could work sometime in the future?
RE: Ionize air and repell away from it with magnetic field
TTFN
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RE: Ionize air and repell away from it with magnetic field
FWIW, magnetic forces alone (i.e. without some kind of electrostatic or E-M intereaction) don't give propulsion, just torque. Magnetic fields react against the Earth's magnetic field to do so - see: magnetic torque bars.. EM or electrostatic forces can couple to plasma to give improvements in net thrust, or specific impulse. see Link
RE: Ionize air and repell away from it with magnetic field