Hyperdrive
General Information:
The hyperdrive engine operates by highly charged plasma from a ship's fusion reactor being channeled into the hyperdrive ring around the spacecraft to create a high density rotating magnetic field that propels the craft into a different dimension, allowing them to take a "shortcut" through normal space without actually exceeding the speed of light.
Speed while in hyperspace is measured by a factor of the original hyperdrive "speed". Hyper +1 is roughly equivalent to traveling at the speed of light (as noted above, the ships actual velocity does not exceed light speed, but by taking a shortcut through normal space in the hyperspace dimension, a ship traveling at Hyper +1 would arrive at it's destination about the same time a beam of light would.) The scale then expands exponentially.
Workings:
(Refer to the below diagram)
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Deuterium fuel is fed into the fusion reactor.
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The reaction produces heat and highly charged plasma.
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Heat rises to the top of the reactor and goes through a heat exchanger. This heat is used to heat the ship's interior, and to heat water for the crew for showers, cooking, etc.
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The plasma goes out through the plasma manifold and through a magnetic turbine. This turbine outputs electrical power for the ship.
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The plasma then goes out to the plasma coils outside the ship.
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The plasma coils produce a high-density magnetic field.
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The high-density magnetic field can be manipulated to move the ship at sub-light speeds, or, at high-output, to move the ship into hyperspace.
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Lowering the plasma flow reduces the strength of the magnetic field, dropping the ship back into normal space.
(click for larger version)
Behind the scenes information:
The hyperdrive system used in the novel is based on the theoretical work done by Burkhard Heim in the
1950's that suggests that a rotating magnetic field might overcome gravity enough to propel a spacecraft.
It is doubtful however, that the speeds attained would be anything close to what's used in the novel.
Also see the following articles for more information on Bukhard Heim and his theories:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkhard_Heim
http://space.newscientist.com/article/mg18925331.200/
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18925391.200-testing-heims-theories.html/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heim_theory
