Electromagnetic wave/particle duality and its applications for Interstellar Propulsion Systems
Humanity has made tremendous advancements in technology in the past centuries to go from a land-dwelling species to flight-capable and now, the beginnings of a space-faring civilisation. As humanity further advances into the foreseeable future, we will certainly expand beyond the confines of our own...
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| Muut tekijät: | |
| Aineistotyyppi: | Final Year Project (FYP) |
| Kieli: | English |
| Julkaistu: |
2018
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| Aiheet: | |
| Linkit: | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76240 |
| _version_ | 1826120013235355648 |
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| author | Goh, Javier Zhin Hsien |
| author2 | Shu Jian Jun |
| author_facet | Shu Jian Jun Goh, Javier Zhin Hsien |
| author_sort | Goh, Javier Zhin Hsien |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Humanity has made tremendous advancements in technology in the past centuries to go from a land-dwelling species to flight-capable and now, the beginnings of a space-faring civilisation. As humanity further advances into the foreseeable future, we will certainly expand beyond the confines of our own solar system. Interstellar travel has long been the realm of science-fiction and human imagination, yet there have been many concepts proposed to take humanity to the stars, concepts ranging from near-term possibilities to physical impossibilities.
Electromagnetic waves are known to exist in its dual nature of wave and particle form, containing energy yet being massless. This characteristics of electromagnetic waves lend itself very favourably to the application of spacecraft propulsion, which is severely limited by the ability to contain as much energy in as little mass as possible. With a massless power source, this could potentially unlock the chains that shackle humanity’s interstellar ambitions.
This study aims to characterise and understand the workings of various proposed methods of spacecraft propulsion that rely primarily on electromagnetic waves in some form. It will then compare the systems against a fixed criteria of mission profiles, which are deemed as likely mission profiles for future manned or unmanned exploration or colonisation missions, to the nearest neighbouring star system, the Alpha Centauri system. This study will then conclude with the most ideal propulsion systems for such future missions, as well as a direction towards further research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T05:09:34Z |
| format | Final Year Project (FYP) |
| id | ntu-10356/76240 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T05:09:34Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/762402023-03-04T18:33:18Z Electromagnetic wave/particle duality and its applications for Interstellar Propulsion Systems Goh, Javier Zhin Hsien Shu Jian Jun School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering Humanity has made tremendous advancements in technology in the past centuries to go from a land-dwelling species to flight-capable and now, the beginnings of a space-faring civilisation. As humanity further advances into the foreseeable future, we will certainly expand beyond the confines of our own solar system. Interstellar travel has long been the realm of science-fiction and human imagination, yet there have been many concepts proposed to take humanity to the stars, concepts ranging from near-term possibilities to physical impossibilities. Electromagnetic waves are known to exist in its dual nature of wave and particle form, containing energy yet being massless. This characteristics of electromagnetic waves lend itself very favourably to the application of spacecraft propulsion, which is severely limited by the ability to contain as much energy in as little mass as possible. With a massless power source, this could potentially unlock the chains that shackle humanity’s interstellar ambitions. This study aims to characterise and understand the workings of various proposed methods of spacecraft propulsion that rely primarily on electromagnetic waves in some form. It will then compare the systems against a fixed criteria of mission profiles, which are deemed as likely mission profiles for future manned or unmanned exploration or colonisation missions, to the nearest neighbouring star system, the Alpha Centauri system. This study will then conclude with the most ideal propulsion systems for such future missions, as well as a direction towards further research. Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) 2018-12-13T06:02:39Z 2018-12-13T06:02:39Z 2018 Final Year Project (FYP) http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76240 en Nanyang Technological University 92 p. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering Goh, Javier Zhin Hsien Electromagnetic wave/particle duality and its applications for Interstellar Propulsion Systems |
| title | Electromagnetic wave/particle duality and its applications for Interstellar Propulsion Systems |
| title_full | Electromagnetic wave/particle duality and its applications for Interstellar Propulsion Systems |
| title_fullStr | Electromagnetic wave/particle duality and its applications for Interstellar Propulsion Systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electromagnetic wave/particle duality and its applications for Interstellar Propulsion Systems |
| title_short | Electromagnetic wave/particle duality and its applications for Interstellar Propulsion Systems |
| title_sort | electromagnetic wave particle duality and its applications for interstellar propulsion systems |
| topic | DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76240 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gohjavierzhinhsien electromagneticwaveparticledualityanditsapplicationsforinterstellarpropulsionsystems |