[QUOTE=Eudoxia;21631322]Hook up particle accelerator to gigantic solar panel
Launch with nuclear rocket
Move close to Sun
PROFIT!
That's it. No unknowns. Just profit :buddy:[/QUOTE]
It's really not even close to being that simple, considering how much money it would take to ship that huge of a setup to the sun
Then the panels would need to be assembled
Trillions and trillions just for starters
[QUOTE=Quo Vadi;21634655]It's really not even close to being that simple, considering how much money it would take to ship that huge of a setup to the sun
Then the panels would need to be assembled
Trillions and trillions just for starters[/QUOTE]
It's kind of silly for me to quote it again, but think of Star Trek. Humanity managed to build up a community that was able to live without money.
What I want to say is, it is possible that one day we'll find the ressources to build such a large contraption.
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;21633853]Well consider the following: Humanity is in the middle of the nanotech revolution (The internet being one of its by-products). The first surgery using nanobots was a success. We can now produce more power (A fusion reactor is being built in France), and we're learning how to do more with less (Nanotech, again).
Self-replicating nanomachines (If they are not incredibly slow, impractical, and fragile) are supposed to be invented before ~2040. With them, we can build Asimov Arrays on Mercury and the Moon. The one on the Moon can be used to produce power and send it to Earth through microwave lasers. The one on Mercury would be too far away for that, so it would be the perfect antimatter factory. We would be able to produce several kilograms, if not tonnes, every day, and power small antimatter Valkyries through the solar system, and interstellar ones every year.[/QUOTE]
Too optimistic. Let's get the economy fixed and the relation problem between greater nations fixed, then possibly you can focus on matter like self replicating machines or structures on Mercury or the Moon. The cancellation of the Constellation program, US not allowing China to get involved with ISS and such doesn't make thing look better. I'd say one more century, and the stuff you are talking about might become reality.
And actually I don't believe there has been any surgery done involving nanobots and we can not produce more power since the ITER isn't ready yet. And as a matter of fact it is an highly experimental facility. Looking on the bright side however, it is a international project involving all big nations and possible super powers such as China and India. It is supposed to be ready 2015, where real research on the matter will be done. If successful, then you can start talking about fusion reactors.
And at last as wikipedia says: "Several fusion D-T burning tokamak test devices have been built (TFTR, JET), but these were not built to produce more thermal energy than electrical energy consumed. Despite research having started in the 1950s, no commercial fusion reactor is expected before [b]2050[/b]. The ITER project is currently leading the effort to commercialize fusion power."
[QUOTE=Quo Vadi;21634655]It's really not even close to being that simple, considering how much money it would take to ship that huge of a setup to the sun
Then the panels would need to be assembled
Trillions and trillions just for starters[/QUOTE]
The nanorobots will take care of that.
But then, better optimistic than pessimistic.
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;21631227]We're still working around fusion. And while antimatter-catalyzed fusion would be cooler, it would be just as efficient as this (Considering fusion drives have an specific impulse of 10% lightspeed).
Not to mention fusion drives would be pretty massive, this one would be a small probe with a sail, some instruments and a Penning trap.[/QUOTE]
There is also the issue that anti matter of any kind comes in contact with any matter of any kind we get a nice big rapish explosion.
Oh well back to the drawing board.
I belive I read somewhere that all power generators on earth (powerplants etc..) makes about 0.01grams of anti-matter each year.
Not much.
[QUOTE=bravehat;21635156]There is also the issue that anti matter of any kind comes in contact with any matter of any kind we get a nice big rapish explosion.
Oh well back to the drawing board.[/QUOTE]
That's why it's so handy. An explosion like that can start fusion reactions.
[QUOTE=MILKE;21635222]I belive I read somewhere that all power generators on earth (powerplants etc..) makes about 0.01grams of anti-matter each year.
Not much.[/QUOTE]
There are no power plants making anti matter, and definitely not in that huge number.
[QUOTE=bravehat;21635156]There is also the issue that anti matter of any kind comes in contact with any matter of any kind we get a nice big rapish explosion.
Oh well back to the drawing board.[/QUOTE]
Penning trap. Look it up.
If we can generate that much amat as proposed by Eudoxia, we could use it as a spacecraft fuel. Because we don't need alot of it (hell, one kilogramm could get use lightyears away without refueling) it is the perfect spacecraft fuel.
I still hope that one day we'll find a way to create the alcubierre drive (or warp drive) and amat could help us on that way.
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;21634159]Let the check the Boom Table.
1.8 x 1008 J: 1 microgram of antimatter + 1 microgram of matter = 43 kilograms TNT equivalent
1.8 x 1011 J: 1 milligram of antimatter + 1 milligram of matter = 43 tons TNT equivalent
1.8 x 1014 J: 1 gram of antimatter + 1 gram of matter = 43 kilotons
1.8 x 1017 J: 1 kilogram of antimatter + 1 kilogram of matter = 43 megatons
1.8 x 1020 J: 1 metric ton of antimatter + 1 metric ton of matter = 43 gigatons[/QUOTE]
Just wondering But what are the chances Of these Bombs exploding prematurely?
Prematurely?
They explode as soon as they come in contact with matter.
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;21635243]That's why it's so handy. An explosion like that can start fusion reactions.[/QUOTE]
Ok so how do you use this fusion reaction to propel a spacecraft?
[QUOTE=bravehat;21636059]Ok so how do you use this fusion reaction to propel a spacecraft?[/QUOTE]
Not really the reactor but you could build a fusion rocket: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_rocket[/url]
[QUOTE=rosthouse;21635274]Penning trap. Look it up.
If we can generate that much amat as proposed by Eudoxia, we could use it as a spacecraft fuel. Because we don't need alot of it (hell, one kilogramm could get use lightyears away without refueling) it is the perfect spacecraft fuel.
I still hope that one day we'll find a way to create the alcubierre drive (or warp drive) and amat could help us on that way.[/QUOTE]
No waht I mean is, in the OP it was mentioned bouncing anti matter into uranium shields to move the ship.
It wouldn't work.
EDIT: for the fusion power idea, I see what you mean now, just I thought you meant direct thrust, Ion thrust is a good idea though.
But the visible universe, atleast most of it, is consisting of matter. So wouldn't we need to produce our own anti-matter on the spot? Seeing as we have no efficient way of storing it.
the answer for everything is goddamn carbon nanotubes, EVERYTHING
[QUOTE=Swebonny;21636022]Prematurely?
They explode as soon as they come in contact with matter.[/QUOTE]
I meant like during production
[QUOTE=Superkilll307;21636492]I meant like during production[/QUOTE]
That's one big problem. Look at CERN and the LHC, they are able to produce antimatter there.
[QUOTE=rosthouse;21636544]That's one big problem. Look at CERN and the LHC, they are able to produce antimatter there.[/QUOTE]
It just takes On slip up And then BOOM!
Only atoms, not in such extent that it becomes dangerous.
[QUOTE=bravehat;21636316]No waht I mean is, in the OP it was mentioned bouncing anti matter into uranium shields to move the ship.
It wouldn't work.
EDIT: for the fusion power idea, I see what you mean now, just I thought you meant direct thrust, Ion thrust is a good idea though.[/QUOTE]
Why wouldn't it work? The antimatter catalyzes fission reactions.
At first I thought this was some kind of sailboat but then I got an interesting twist.
It does seem like we are getting closer and closer to obtaining anti matter
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warp_drive_%28Star_Trek%29#Warp_core[/url]
Nothin' new for followers of Star Trek :smug:
The sad part is.. as soon as we master antimatter, millions of people are going to use it as weaponry
[QUOTE=SecretGamer360;21638504]The sad part is.. as soon as we master antimatter, millions of people are going to use it as weaponry[/QUOTE]
Yes, because once NASA obtains antimatter, it will be spread around so fast, especially with how easy it is to transport something that explodes when in contact with MATTER :rolleyes:
I love seeing the intelligent side of Facepunch.
[QUOTE=shatteredwindow;21636422]the answer for everything is goddamn carbon nanotubes, EVERYTHING[/QUOTE]
Gives super cancer, like Asbestos.
[editline]08:32PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;21635243]That's why it's so handy. An explosion like that can start fusion reactions.[/QUOTE]
Even a millisecond of containment breach, and you're [U]fucked.[/U]
[QUOTE=Shugo589;21638531]Yes, because once NASA obtains antimatter, it will be spread around so fast, especially with how easy it is to transport something that explodes when in contact with MATTER :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
You really think that something so powerful will be treated as nothing for so long? It won't happen immediately but I guarantee you it will happen. It won't be long until the US Military invests in researching this into use as a weapon. Technology keeps evolving, slowly but surely, we'll be able to carry antimatter around as if it were nothing. When our species eventually collapse, we'll probably be to blame for our own demise.
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