ESA Moves Forward on New Electric Engine

museumpeace writes to tell us the ESA is reporting that they have confirmed the principle behind a new space thruster. Plasma Double Layers, first discovered by Australian researchers Christine Charles and Rod Boswell, may help to develop a new electric engine that gives more thrust than traditional engines while still maintaining efficiency. From the article: "In essence, a plasma double layer is the electrostatic equivalent of a waterfall. Just as water molecules pick up energy as they fall between the two different heights, so electrically charged particles pick up energy as they travel through the layers of different electrical properties."

Comments

Glowy stuff?

[Targen]

So, is this the first version of the glowy spaceship engines we see in movies? 'bout time we came up with it...

Life is like a box of chocolates.. except not.

[StikyPad]

In essence, a plasma double layer is the electrostatic equivalent of a waterfall.

Ok, I'm no physicist, but do we really need a double layered plasma engine to throw rockets over the side of a cliff?

Also, doesn't a waterfall transfer the energy back to the earth when those water molecules collide with the ground (minus losses). It doesn't create energy, and the net gain is zero. If if wasn't, you could create a perpetual motion machine by harnessing the energy of the falling water to carry more water back up the cliff/hill. So either I'm misunderstanding something, or the waterfall is a horrible analogy, because it takes as much (theoretically) or more (practically) energy to lift the water to the elevated state than you could gain by harnessing the energy of it falling.

Re:Seems a bit 'old hat'

[Zen Punk]

So are you going to show us the formula for transparent aluminum now?