Long-term Confinement of Dense Positron Plasmas

The objective of this propoosal is to demonstrate the feasibility of storing large numbers of antielectrons, or positrons, for long periods of time. Antimatter has the largest specific energy known to humankind, i.e 180 MJ/microgram. An ordnance packagecontaining micrograms of positrons stored for days would comprise an extremely powerful, lethal and revolutionary weapon. We will investigate several technologies for confining positron plasmas, including Penning traps, linear magnetic mirror traps, andclosed magnetic torus traps. Other systems may be considered as work progresses. The deliverable will be a Final Report which includes descriptions of systems, costs and construction details.A low mass system capable of holding hundreds of MJ's of energyfor long periods of time has many potential commercial applications. Among these in the aviation sector is a Positron Energy Conversion (PEC) ramjet or turbojmet, with the capability of extended flight (up to 30 days) and range (transcontinental).Applications include weather surveys, population, agriculture and pollution studies, and land and marine assays.