Principle of Mag Balloons

• Solar wind density = 3/cc H+ at 350-800 km/s

  • H+ Flux thru 1m2/s= 1m2*400km*3e6/m3=1.2e12
  • Pressure = 2e-27kg*1.2e12*400km/s = 1nPa

• That’s 1/10,000 the pressure of light!

• Why would anyone ever bother with Solar Wind?

  • Because it isn’t pressure, it’s acceleration we are after. If we can make a mag balloon lighter than a solar sail, we may still achieve higher acceleration.
  • Magnetic fields don’t weigh very much for their size.
  • Trapped plasma can make an even larger mag field.

Notes: