Relativistic electron beam
Encyclopedia
Relativistic electron beams (REBs) are streams of electrons moving at relativistic
speeds. They are the lasing medium in free electron laser
s (FELs) to be used in atmospheric research conducted at such entities as the Pan-oceanic Environmental and Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) at the University of Hawaii
and NASA
.
It has been suggested that REBs could be used to heat and accelerate the reaction mass
in electrical rocket engines that Dr. Robert W. Bussard
called Quiet Electric Discharge Engines (QEDs).
Relativistic particle
A relativistic particle is a particle which moves with a relativistic speed; that is, a speed comparable to the speed of light. This is achieved by photons to the extent that effects described by special relativity are able to describe those of such particles themselves...
speeds. They are the lasing medium in free electron laser
Free electron laser
A free-electron laser, or FEL, is a laser that shares the same optical properties as conventional lasers such as emitting a beam consisting of coherent electromagnetic radiation which can reach high power, but which uses some very different operating principles to form the beam...
s (FELs) to be used in atmospheric research conducted at such entities as the Pan-oceanic Environmental and Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
and NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
.
It has been suggested that REBs could be used to heat and accelerate the reaction mass
Working mass
Working mass is a mass against which a system operates in order to produce acceleration.In the case of a rocket, for example, the reaction mass is the fuel shot backwards to provide propulsion. All acceleration requires an exchange of momentum, which can be thought of as the "unit of movement"...
in electrical rocket engines that Dr. Robert W. Bussard
Robert W. Bussard
Robert W. Bussard was an American physicist who worked primarily in nuclear fusion energy research. He was the recipient of the Schreiber-Spence Achievement Award for STAIF-2004. He was also a fellow of the International Academy of Astronautics and held a Ph.D...
called Quiet Electric Discharge Engines (QEDs).