How the ions are accelerated in an Electrodeless Lorentz Force (ELF) thruster? As the Lorentz force F=J×B applies on the electrons due to their rotating motion and resultant azimuthal current, only the electrons should be accelerated. So, how about the ions?
John Slough
David Kirtley
Thomas Weber
Anthony Pancotti
http://msnwllc.com/space-propulsion
The Lorentz equation requires that both an ambient electric field and an ambient magnetic field be at play for an electron to be driven.
F=q(E+vB)
When both ambient fields have the same density, the electron moves in a straight line, otherwise the trajectory is curved.
No hypothetical rotating motion seems to be involved.
The same for ions.
There is no basic difference between ions and electrons - just ions are much much more heavy.
Magnetic field itself does cause changes in the trajectory (direction) of motion; but the resulting energy (or velocity) of the charged particle remains intact.
I have checked only the last source in your original post ... well, it is more science-fiction than science.
I think the ions follow the electrons as the ring of electrons travel backwards, because the charge attraction between the ions and electrons is so strong. The ions don't follow the electrons around the circle because the circular symmetry means there is always another ion for each electron to be near, and also ions don't move much compared to the electrons, for the same force, because ions are so much heavier. This is a pulsed device, so the electrons are ejected like squeezing a bar of soap (the magnetic field of the circulating electron current wants to expand but can't, except by travelling backwards to where the cone is larger), the ions follow them, then the cone is re-fuelled. This isn't a perpetual motion machine. The currents generating the magnetic fields do work and require energy input, which becomes kinetic energy in the exhaust. It is very mass-efficient because the exhaust can be very fast. The faster the exhaust (and for very fast, the more relativistic it is) the less mass is required to give the same propulsion.
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