Editing Antimatter-catalyzed nuclear pulse propulsion (section)

== Research ==
The concept was invented at [[Pennsylvania State University]] before 1992. Since then, several groups have studied antimatter-catalyzed micro fission/fusion engines in the lab.<ref>{{cite web |title=Antiproton-Catalyzed Microfission/Fusion Propulsion Systems For Exploration Of The Outer Solar System And Beyond |url=http://www.engr.psu.edu/antimatter/Papers/ICAN.pdf |access-date=8 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824024457/http://www.engr.psu.edu/antimatter/Papers/ICAN.pdf |archive-date=24 August 2012}}</ref> Work has been performed at [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] on antiproton-initiated fusion as early as 2004.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Perkins |last2=Orth |last3=Tabak |title=On the utility of antiprotons as drivers for inertial confinement fusion |journal=Nuclear Fusion |volume=44 |issue=10 |pages=1097 |url=https://cui.unige.ch/isi/sscr/phys/Perkins-Ort-Tabak.pdf |access-date=1 August 2018 |bibcode=2004NucFu..44.1097P |year=2004 |doi=10.1088/0029-5515/44/10/004 |osti=15013833 |s2cid=250744699 }}</ref> In contrast to the large mass, complexity and recirculating power of conventional drivers for [[inertial confinement fusion]] (ICF), antiproton annihilation offers a specific energy of 90&nbsp;MJ/μg and thus a unique form of energy packaging and delivery. In principle, antiproton drivers could provide a profound reduction in system mass for advanced space propulsion by ICF.

Antiproton-driven ICF is a speculative concept, and the handling of antiprotons and their required injection precision—temporally and spatially—will present significant technical challenges. The storage and manipulation of low-energy antiprotons, particularly in the form of [[antihydrogen]], is a science in its infancy, and a large scale-up of antiproton production over present supply methods would be required to embark on a serious R&D programme for such applications.

A record for antimatter storage of just over 1000&nbsp;seconds, performed in the [[CERN]] facility, during 2011, was at the time a monumental leap from the millisecond timescales that previously were achievable.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Confinement of antihydrogen for 1,000 seconds |journal=Nature Physics |volume=7 |issue=7 |pages=558–564 |doi=10.1038/nphys2025 |year=2011 |bibcode=2011NatPh...7..558A |author1=Alpha Collaboration |last2=Andresen |first2=G. B. |last3=Ashkezari |first3=M. D. |last4=Baquero-Ruiz |first4=M. |last5=Bertsche |first5=W. |last6=Bowe |first6=P. D. |last7=Butler |first7=E. |last8=Cesar |first8=C. L. |last9=Charlton |first9=M. |last10=Deller |first10=A. |last11=Eriksson |first11=S. |last12=Fajans |first12=J. |last13=Friesen |first13=T. |last14=Fujiwara |first14=M. C. |last15=Gill |first15=D. R. |last16=Gutierrez |first16=A. |last17=Hangst |first17=J. S. |last18=Hardy |first18=W. N. |last19=Hayano |first19=R. S. |last20=Hayden |first20=M. E. |last21=Humphries |first21=A. J. |last22=Hydomako |first22=R. |last23=Jonsell |first23=S. |last24=Kemp |first24=S. L. |last25=Kurchaninov |first25=L. |last26=Madsen |first26=N. |last27=Menary |first27=S. |last28=Nolan |first28=P. |last29=Olchanski |first29=K. |last30=Olin |first30=A. |display-authors=29 |arxiv=1104.4982|s2cid=17151882 }}</ref>

Total world-wide production of anti-protons in a period of a year is in the range of nanograms. The anti-matter trap (Mark 1 version) at [[Penn State University]]  has the capacity for the storage of 10 billion for a period of approximately 168 hours. [[Project Icarus (interstellar)|Project Icarus]] has given the estimated potential cost of production of 1 milligram of anti-proton as $100 billion.<ref>{{cite web
| url =http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/uploads/2012/05/Antimatter-Catalyzed-Fusion-Propulsion-For-Interstellar-Missions.pdf 
|last1 = Obousy
|first1 = Richard K.
| title = Project Icarus: Antimatter Catalyzed Fusion Propulsion For Interstellar Missions Part 3. Antimatter Catalyzed Fusion Propulsion For Interstellar Missions
| work =www.icarusinterstellar.org (Icarus Interstellar Inc.)
|page = 12
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221055359/http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/uploads/2012/05/Antimatter-Catalyzed-Fusion-Propulsion-For-Interstellar-Missions.pdf
|archive-date=2018-12-21
| accessdate = 2 July 2021}}</ref>