Spacecraft drives

Thanks for the replies, although I was left a little confused.  I'm
assuming that there are ways to improve the Isp (actually, the EJV,
but it works out to the same thing) by NOT simply smashing deuterium
and He3 together like mini-H bombs, but using your fusion power plant
to power a containment field (magnetic?  I guess so) that will heat
reaction mass, like normal hydrogen, to such horrific temperatures
that it spews out at velocities that give you much better fuel consumption
than the Daedelus-type starships.  The convention Isps of 6E05 to 1E06,
I have been told, are based on our bomb-versions of fusion...if we had
really efficient fusion power, we could heat and direct the reaction
mass much more efficiently.

For those who have been discussing this issue, let's put it this way,
my fusion engines, unless I'm setting this up wrong, a 7:3 payload-fuel
ration (i.e., 30% of the ship is fuel) will let you reach about 2% c
and then decelerate down again, or let you reach 4% c and keep going
forever until you hit something.  What kind of Isp would be required
for this, and if we can use magnetic fields to contain plasma at
several hundred million degrees, it is unreasonable to assume that
this kind of Isp could be achieved.  If it is, is it possible that
"fusion" engines actually sweeten the mix with a little (magnetically
stored) anti-hydrogen?  (Is this the galactic version of adding a
nitrous tank to your car?)

Thanks in advance.  Take care all.

Mark


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