Azimuthal-Current Drive (ACD) Plasma Beam for Space Debris Mitigation

The proposed innovation seeks to take advantage of a recently developed highly collimated, high density plasma system which has applications for remote space debris removal. The Azimuthal-Current drive (ACD) Plasma Beam System produces a highly directed, intense plasma beam which can be shown to be effective in removing small space debris by imparting directed energy to small objects providing enough delta V to de-orbit the target. The system is low weight, compact with an all solid state power processing unit (PPU) making it suitable for space borne applications. The ACD system’s induced plasma currents provide self-focusing of the plasma beam over extended distances allowing for a single system to be effective on many targets without the need for close approach to the target. BENEFIT: The Azimuthal-Current drive (ACD) Plasma Beam System produces a highly directed, intense plasma beam for space debris removal which can protect vital asset as more and more small particle debris provides an ever increasing danger to space assets. Other potential commercial applications include its use as in-space electric thruster, precise plasma based material processing and plasma generation for medical applications. The high power pulsed solid state supply has applications in fusion energy development and high power pulsed radar systems.