  A new breakthrough in jet propulsion technology since the invention of the
jet engine is achieved. The first critical tests for future air-breathing
magneto-plasma propulsion systems have been successfully completed. In this
regard, it is also the first time that a pinching dense plasma focus discharge
could be ignited at one atmosphere and driven in pulse mode using very fast,
nanosecond electrostatic excitations to induce self-organized plasma channels
for ignition of the propulsive main discharge. Depending on the capacitor
voltage (200-600 V) the energy input at one atmosphere varies from 52-320
J/pulse corresponding to impulse bits from 1.2-8.0 mNs. Such a new pulsed
plasma propulsion system driven with one thousand pulses per second would
already have thrust-to-area ratios (50-150 kN/m2) of modern jet engines. An
array of thrusters could enable future aircrafts and airships to start from
ground and reach altitudes up to 50km and beyond. The needed high power could
be provided by future compact plasma fusion reactors already in development by
aerospace companies. The magneto-plasma compressor itself was originally
developed by Russian scientists as plasma fusion device and was later
miniaturized for supersonic flow control applications. So the first
breakthrough is based on a spin-off plasma fusion technology.
