SBIR-STTR Award

There is currently an intensive effort to develop a new generation of miniature munitions that maximize flight endurance time and/or operate efficiently under a variety of flight conditions. A key subsystem of these munitions is the propulsion system. A major advance in propulsion technology would be extremely valuable. First Point Scientific, Inc. proposes to address this need by developing a new and highly advanced concept for storing energy in the form of antimatter. This concept is based on the containment of positrons in specially prepared porous materials. The technical objectives of the Phase I project are: (1) to produce an experimental apparatus for measuring key properties of the new positron storage concept; (2) to establish the scientific feasibility of the concept by measuring the positron reflection coefficient from helium coated silica, and by measuring the lifetime in porous silica; and (3) to use the experimental data to design a laboratory prototype positron storage device to be constructed in Phase II. Success in the proposed effort will have benefits far beyond the application area proposed. For example, it will provide a key ingredient for the development of a gamma ray laser.

Keywords:
Positron, Energy Storage

There is currently an intensive effort to develop a new generation of miniature munitions that maximize flight endurance time and/or operate efficiently under a variety of flight conditions. A key munitions subsystem is the propulsion system where advances would be extremely valuable. First Point Scientific, Inc. will address this need by developing a highly advanced concept for storing energy in the form of antimatter. This concept is based on the containment of positrons in an advanced miniature Penning trap array. The objectives of the proposed Phase II project are to: (1) develop an advanced Penning trap experiment; (2) perform tests to optimize the number of positrons stored and the storage time in a single trap; (3) to develop a prototype trap array to substantially increase the number of stored positrons (this will include consideration of efficient positron extraction); and (4) perform experiments using the High Flux Positron Source to load the prototype trap array with the goal of demonstrating >10E12 stored positrons with storage times of >1 hour. The proposed effort will provide the foundation for future advanced propulsion systems, but it will also have immediate benefits by providing a key element for development of a gamma ray laser.

Keywords:
Antimatter, Positrons, Penning Trap, Positron Storage, Rotating Wall, Energy Storage, Advanced Propulsion