The project to achieve the exoplanets of the proxim of the centaur b becomes more and more real thanks to the latest technologies. However, the engine system remains the main problem. Christopher Lumbach, a professor at the University of Michigan, received a grant from the Institute of Promising Concepts of NASA (NIAC) to develop a new type of radiation plug, which uses both a particle ray and a laser to overcome technological restrictions.
Modern missile engines cannot deliver the apparatus to the proxim of centaur B, since their fuel is too heavy and quickly burning, not allowing to reach the necessary speeds. Solar sails that use the pressure of sunlight for movement are also ineffective, since as it removes from the sun, the strength of this pressure is significantly reduced, and the sail loses the ability to accelerate effectively.
Unusual solutions, such as nuclear engines or ion engines, are also not suitable, since they require the transportation of fuel, which increases the mass of the device and reduces its speed.
The best alternative is a radiation pass. The principle is to create a powerful beam in space, which continues to push the spacecraft throughout the way. Conventional radiation blending systems use either light or partial rays, but both of these options have a lack of diffraction. The rays are scattered over long distances, losing their strength and accuracy.
However, the researchers have found a way to combine the beam of particles and laser, which allows you to almost completely eliminate diffraction and dispersion. This will allow the radiation passing system to maintain the concentration of the beam in the right place, without losing strength as the device is removed.
Based on this technology, Dr. Lumba developed the Procsima method, which uses the coordinated combined beam of particles and laser. Calculations show that such a ray can work effectively before the proxim of centaur B, deviating by only 10 meters. According to the calculations of Dr. Limbach and his colleagues, Dr. Ken Khara, Professor Stanford University, a 5-gram probe, similar to that is being developed as part of the Breakthrough Initiatives project, can be dispersed to 10% of the light speed and reaches Proksim of the Centauru B for 43 years.
Alternatively, a larger probe weighing about 1 kg will be able to reach the system in about 57 years,