A Spin-Polarised Interstellar Ramjet: Collection, Thrust and the Drag Balance at Cruise
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This paper presents a complete design study of an interstellar ramjet that polarises the hydrogen it collects before fusion, computed throughout from stated assumptions. Polarisation raises the exhaust velocity to 0.054 of light speed, and the thrust-drag balance changes sign at that speed: below it the ship gains, above it the collected stream costs more momentum than the exhaust returns. At five percent of light speed the net thrust is 36.0 N; at a tenth of light speed the collected flow is 6.00e-05 kg per second and the net thrust is -826.9 N; at a fifth of light speed the thrust reaches 1941.3 N against a net thrust of -5248.7 N. Every figure is a computed result of the stated model and nothing was built or tested: the study is SIMULATED, NOT MEASURED, and its limits are stated as plainly as its performance.
Author: Aldred, William Alexander
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225824532