I'm sure this has been discussed before here someplace, but it popped to mind the other day when I was watching a few videos from theYouTube channel Because Science with Kyle Hill (S1 • E167) titled "How Would You Build a Real X-Wing?" which discussed which actual propulsion methods could in theory power Star Wars starfighters. In it Kyle mentions both nuclear fusion engines and antimatter engines for sublight thrust, but in that discussion mentions something which kinda fits with the refit's so-called "impulse deflection crystal"
Specifically, that you can use the energy from the matter/antimatter reaction to heat hydrogen/deuterium and use it as reaction mass to create thrust. And this could make sense with the impulse engine as Andy Probert designed it, because you'd channel energy from the m/a reactions in the intermix chamber up to the impulse engines (and presumably into the "crystal") to superheat deuterium and produce thrust. In the event of a problem with the intermix or a saucer separation, you'd use the deuterium for fusion alone, so you'd still have impulse power but potentially with lower acceleration.
Below is the whole video, but this link jumps to the relevant section.
Specifically, that you can use the energy from the matter/antimatter reaction to heat hydrogen/deuterium and use it as reaction mass to create thrust. And this could make sense with the impulse engine as Andy Probert designed it, because you'd channel energy from the m/a reactions in the intermix chamber up to the impulse engines (and presumably into the "crystal") to superheat deuterium and produce thrust. In the event of a problem with the intermix or a saucer separation, you'd use the deuterium for fusion alone, so you'd still have impulse power but potentially with lower acceleration.
Below is the whole video, but this link jumps to the relevant section.
Last edited:
