Progress in Fission Fragment Rocket Engine Development and Alpha Particle Detection in Ultrahigh Magnetic Fields

We present an innovative design of an alpha particle detection system operating in high magnetic fields over large cross-sections. Our primary focus revolves around enhancing nuclear rocket designs and empirically evaluating its operational efficiency through experiments and simulations. This experiment provides a platform to evaluate confinement and thrust within a future fission fragment rocket engine (FFRE). This study utilized the naturally occurring radio-isotope Th-232 with extremely low specific activity (10^-7 Ci/g) in the form of ThO₂ as a source of alpha particles as a surrogate for fission fragments. The source is located within a cylindrical vacuum chamber and is held within a powerful 3-Tesla magnetic field, effectively confining the flight path of the emitted alpha particles. Additionally, we present the results from a study of attenuation ratio of alpha particle numbers due to aerogel sheet using a CR39 method and an Am-241 source. By simulating, measuring, and analyzing the emitted alpha particle flux, we gain valuable information about the distribution and escape potential of fission fragments in future FFRE designs. More generally, this work provides a powerful new method to analyze ion fluxes and nuclear reaction fragmentation in a variety of experimental designs.