SBIR-STTR Award

Antimatter offers the highest energy density of any known material; its energy density is more than ten orders of magnitude greater than conventional fuels and about 1000 times greater than possible with fusion energy. Thus, if the feasibility of a practical antimatter power source can be demonstrated, it will have a fundamental impact on the capabilities of enhanced duration airborne weapons platforms as well as many other applications. The key elements of an antimatter power system are: (1) the antimatter source; (2) antimatter storage; and (3) antimatter energy conversion. In the near term, a positron-based antimatter system is most practical based on the large amount of positron research that has been done. First Point Scientific, Inc. together with the University of California Riverside, both leaders in positron technology development, propose to provide an initial demonstration of the feasibility of a positron-based power system by developing a High Flux Positron Source (HFPS). The Phase I project will evaluate the feasibility of the technologies necessary to accomplish this, and will result in the preliminary design for an HFPS of highly advanced and scalable capabilities that will be constructed and demonstrated in Phase II

Antimatter has the highest energy density of any potential fuel and, thus, is extremely attractive for advanced energy conversion applications such as enhanced endurance platforms. Positrons will be essential to any such system and positron sources that are substantially more powerful than those currently available will be required. First Point Scientific, Inc.(FPSI), in collaboration with the University of California, Riverside (UCR), proposes to develop a High Flux Positron Source (HFPS) for this and other important applications. The system will be based on the production of a high flux of the positron-emitting radioisotope nitrogen-13 produced by accelerating high-energy deuterons onto a carbon target. The Phase II project will include (1) procurement of a 1.5 MeV accelerator; (2) development of a shielded isotope production chamber; and (3) system characterization and optimization to maximize the positron output. In addition, depending on supplemental funding, FPSI will: (1) demonstrate a high performance moderator on the HFPS to produce high fluxes of slow positrons; and (2) test the HFPS with the accelerator upgraded to 5 MeV. Successful completion of this project will provide a firm foundation to proceed with the development of the advanced power source required for critical defense applications.

Keywords:
Enhanced Endurance Platforms, Positron, Antimatter, Accelerator