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I submitted an idea to the linked Innocentive challenge for a system to protect vs cosmic rays. In short my scheme involves tiny long coils (like a low note piano string) positioned with the long axis parallel to the ship interior. The premise is that incoming charged particles will induce a current
in the coil, and the current produce a magnetic field which will repel the particle. So the energy to deflect the particle is tapped from the particle.
A second interior layer of similar coils is triggered by detection of current in the outer layer (from a particle). The relevant interior coils are charged by a capacitor discharge to further repel the incoming particle.
I gather the Seekers got sick of reading loosey goosy handwaving like this and so stipulated their need for rigorous math(s). But loosey goosey is all I got.
Any one capable of doing the math is hereby invited to either 1: steal this idea wholesale and I will never know 2: form a team with me and attach the math, and I will split any winnings 99% / 1% with me taking the 1%.
Idea is too fun not to bandy about in this format, math or no. People with math capability can email me if desired.
Cosmic ray challenge
https://www.innocen...r/challenge/9933638 Bring out your math! Bring out your math! [bungston, May 28 2015]
[link]
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What you seem to be proposing is very paradoxical. The
charged particle needs to be deflected from near the speed
of light, your induction system will not act fast enough or
remain energized long enough to have any significant
impact. I believe that you are mistaking the relative size of
the field where charge interactions occur. to have any
significant field impact the nucleus would have to come
very near another nucleus, I suspect it would need to come
so near that nuclear interactions would be as or more
common than field interactions. |
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for instance a sheet of carbon lattice would have a
relatively good chance of having a field interaction, but
even many many layers you are still unlikely to have any
interaction at all nuclear or field, and nuclear interactions
would still be the vast majority of any energy
communicated. |
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/I suspect/
I suspect that it was for this reason the Seekers
asked for math. It is not in dispute that a
magnetic field can deflect a charged particle,
even a very small one. You can't dodge thru a
magnetic field. It is not in dispute that a moving
charge can induce a magnetic field. |
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But you may be right, WCW about the size of the
field associated with a particle as regards the
chances of making it do work or even of detecting
it. The charged field must be larger than the
particle but I do not know how much larger it is. |
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If a moving charged field does induce a magnetic
field and opposing charged field, I think that
happens fast but I am not sure how fast.
Instantaneously? |
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Also you may be right about the speed with
which the capacitor can discharge and produce a
repulsive magnetic field. Electrical current moves
close to the speed of light, I understand. Cosmic
rays can move close to the speed of light but
most of them are slower than that. {waves hands,
cannot produce math} |
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// The premise is that incoming charged particles will
induce a current in the coil, and the current produce a
magnetic field which will repel the particle. So the
energy to deflect the particle is tapped from the
particle. // |
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This can't work for the same reason magnetic brakes
are less effective at low speeds
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// A second interior layer of similar coils is triggered
by detection of current in the outer layer (from a
particle). The relevant interior coils are charged by a
capacitor discharge to further repel the incoming
particle. // |
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Oh. That's OK then. But your trigger system will
need to be really sensitive and REALLY fast. |
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New idea: Detect incoming cosmic rays with radar
and destroy them with a femtosecond laser. Those
can deliver high enough energy density to break
molecules apart and strip electrons from atoms. Again
you'll need a really fast triggering and aiming system. |
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What is that battleship protection system that
shoots down incoming missiles with bullets?
AEGIS? AENUS? Something like that. |
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These alpha particle cosmic rays are already
stripped pretty naked is my understanding. Can
you cause something to change direction by
shooting it with a laser? Lasers heat things up
(and cool things down?) but I do not think they
deliver any oomph. If I have got to have a
spacefaring particle traverse my innards I do not
want to heat it up first! |
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As re the prospects for the math needed for this
challenge I will content myself with the thought
that some calculus enabled lurker has seen the
(vast) potential,adopted it and will raise it as his
own. |
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Anyway, wasn't he the cop in the Dukes of Hazzard? Don't tell me he's moonlighting... |
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