tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post413868443946727198..comments2024-03-29T07:43:40.648+00:00Comments on ToughSF: Fusion without Fissiles: Superbombs and Wilderness OrionMatter Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16721504049578296529noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-37236267882540270582023-09-16T00:55:08.375+01:002023-09-16T00:55:08.375+01:00"no prolonged cries of the oppressed on socia..."no prolonged cries of the oppressed on social media and news channels"<br /><br />Outside of the lethal range of radiation you'd have a bunch of people who get severe radiation sickness, not to mention cancer, but don't die immediately.<br /><br />That would be a PR nightmare. Imagine the cries of people literally falling apart from radiation sickness. Imagine the reparations you'd have to pay for cancer patients.<br /><br />There is no reason to use this in a civilian zone other than genocide. It would not be strategic at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-56956948019277052232022-12-08T12:00:41.714+00:002022-12-08T12:00:41.714+00:00We have never produced or tested Ultra Dense Hydro...We have never produced or tested Ultra Dense Hydrogen so this is entirely theoretical...Matter Beamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16721504049578296529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-63421494607902257032022-12-08T05:57:47.711+00:002022-12-08T05:57:47.711+00:00What do you think about the muon-catalysed fusion ...What do you think about the muon-catalysed fusion engine concept where muons are produced from ultra-dense hydrogen<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jAUXuL-6oc<br />https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341601815_Future_interstellar_rockets_may_use_laser-induced_annihilation_reactions_for_relativistic_drive<br />Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01289523243071664763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-40144146401633986002022-12-03T19:00:47.470+00:002022-12-03T19:00:47.470+00:001. You are correct, you need a proper stealth ship...1. You are correct, you need a proper stealth ship design. The idea here is that pure fusion can help staying cool and quiet during the drift phases between engine burns.<br /><br />2. A military version would just use a fission stage to massively increase the thrust power and specific impulse, compared to a HE-ignited fusion engine.Matter Beamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16721504049578296529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-60655397014785700042022-11-25T03:08:20.469+00:002022-11-25T03:08:20.469+00:00Love your work! I have a couple of questions:
1. ...Love your work! I have a couple of questions:<br /><br />1. I saw you mentioned stealth aspects to another commenter. Wouldn't the other systems of the ship (life support, residual heat, etc) produce enough of a thermal signature to negate the stealth aspect? I saw your helium steamer post, but this design is far from that.<br /><br />2. What would a military version with much higher acceleration look like in terms of specs and design?Hoopihagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01089691006861523595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-38228629839971132762022-11-22T07:06:00.680+00:002022-11-22T07:06:00.680+00:00Thank you.
First Light Fusion needs a powerful lin...Thank you.<br />First Light Fusion needs a powerful linear accelerator to drive up the fusion fuel to impact velocities sufficient for ignition. It takes capacitors the size of a building to store the necessary energy to do that, and then there is the equipment needed to recover that energy from the fusion reaction to recharge those capacitors.<br /><br />The pure fusion concept described in this blog post relies on High Explosive with a very high energy density. Of course, the challenge is in converting that energy into a form that is fast enough to ignite fusion fuel... Matter Beamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16721504049578296529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-82402416761739956732022-11-17T02:44:01.051+00:002022-11-17T02:44:01.051+00:00Great as always.
Do wish you’ld have touched on im...Great as always.<br />Do wish you’ld have touched on impact fusion like First Lights reactor design. It seems like a great alternate design for a Orion drive needing no fission trigger, and very scalable.Kelly Starksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-11827301110517371902022-11-04T13:28:51.259+00:002022-11-04T13:28:51.259+00:00In the 'pure fusion' devices, all the ener...In the 'pure fusion' devices, all the energy needed for ignition is already stored in the High Explosive each devices contains. There is no additional power input required.Matter Beamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16721504049578296529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-52923341473927644252022-11-03T18:27:48.533+00:002022-11-03T18:27:48.533+00:00If it is used as an auxiliary engine like a maneuv...If it is used as an auxiliary engine like a maneuvering thruster, is it also a fusion rocket? It also appears that certain types of rockets only initiate fusion reactions while they are operating. If the spacecraft has so much power consuming equipment on board that it requires energy other than thrusters. Would it still be necessary to get energy from the thrusters to sustain the fusion reaction or would it be necessary to get the energy to sustain the fusion reaction from the energy supplied to the rest of the spacecraft?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-11615267462275161712022-10-11T22:04:12.606+01:002022-10-11T22:04:12.606+01:00The fission-fusion idea does seem like the most pr...The fission-fusion idea does seem like the most productive option but it might run counter to the whole 'no fissiles needed' aspect of these HE-ignited devices. Matter Beamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16721504049578296529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-19520829572074149362022-10-06T19:13:28.799+01:002022-10-06T19:13:28.799+01:00The specific form of energy used in a Teller-Ulam ...The specific form of energy used in a Teller-Ulam bomb is high-intensity x-rays, which are produced by blackbody radiation from the primary. The immediate question is what is the effective radiation temperature of the pure fusion blast in the first few tens of microseconds (before the thing blows itself apart), which determines both peak emission frequency and total flux.<br /><br />At least some pure fusion designs, like the MTF variants, explicitly rely on producing similar temperatures as a Teller-Ulam bomb, though only in a very small area in the center of the device, so effective surface temperature still depends on fusion gain vs. amount of unavoidable surrounding material.<br /><br />You could also use the fusion neutrons to fission a uranium or plutonium tamper. Fusion neutrons are energetic enough for U-238, though reactor grade U or Pu would work even better. The result would be similar to a classical boosted fission device, releasing potentially far more energy from tamper fission than from fusion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-47403807300210091582022-10-01T17:26:21.440+01:002022-10-01T17:26:21.440+01:00I don't have an answer for you right now but I...I don't have an answer for you right now but I can say this:<br />In Winterberg's own fusion ignition designs, the energy of the HE has to converted into 'higher quality' energy such as intense electrical currents or imploding magnetic fields for it to be able to achieve ignition. The blast from a pure fusion device would have to be converted into this 'higher quality' energy if we want it to ignite a larger fusion stage - which might require equipment (explosive flux generators?) scaled up the gigajoules energy we need to handle.Matter Beamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16721504049578296529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-44486936524834535362022-10-01T06:31:16.028+01:002022-10-01T06:31:16.028+01:00I thought you said in an earlier comment response ...I thought you said in an earlier comment response that the kinds of devices discussed in this post don't really have any advantage over the likes of ITER or NIF if you are building a large ground-based powerplant with no size or mass constraints.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-79890372491947374712022-10-01T06:23:11.886+01:002022-10-01T06:23:11.886+01:00Edit to the fourth point:
You say that the tempera...Edit to the fourth point:<br />You say that the temperature and pressure achievable from a pure fusion device are still significantly less than you get from a fission primary, but I would think the relevant question is more one of whether the fusion device could generate enough of an x-ray blast to use for a radiation implosion of a larger fusion stage. My understanding is that the fission primary is really just a giant x-ray flashbulb, and all other energy transport processes are so slow compared to radiation transport that they play no role in igniting the secondary. Or at least they aren't supposed to if your bomb is designed properly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-4096090027774897162022-10-01T06:09:04.814+01:002022-10-01T06:09:04.814+01:001. There would in fact be significant fallout, in ...1. There would in fact be significant fallout, in the form of neutron-activated material from the bomb itself and nearby material kicked up by the explosion (or drawn into the mushroom cloud by an air burst).<br /><br />2. You are very probably underestimating the problem of neutron activation of the area around the blast, especially for deliberate neutron bomb strikes. As I recall, this was actually considered a positive feature for anti-tank use, because it meant that the enemy can't just pull out the dead bodies and re-crew the tanks with fresh meat (unless the spare crews are willing to die horribly of radiation poisoning, anyway). Neutron-bombing a city, even with pure fusion bombs, would probably turn that city into a radioactive waste dump for quite a while - although some attackers might consider that as a feature rather than a bug.<br /><br />3. Even if you did have some way to magically kill everyone in a city with only light damage and no contamination, then you would still annihilate the entire economy and labor force (skilled and otherwise) and basically turn a functioning city into a well-preserved ruin. Best case scenario is if the attacker is a bunch of Nazis who actually have tens of thouosands of Lebensraum settlers prepared and waiting to immediately repopulate those ruins, and even then you would have a massive logistical undertaking to actually restart a functioning society and economy<br /><br />4. The relatively low yield per kg of pure fusion bombs as compared to Teller-Ulam warheads would become irrelevant if the pure fusion device could itself be used to ignite such a warhead without needing any fissile material.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-73919482084004571082022-08-29T03:27:24.734+01:002022-08-29T03:27:24.734+01:00Yes, that's right.
Pure fusion devices can be ...Yes, that's right.<br />Pure fusion devices can be made smaller and would not release radioactive metals like fission bombs. That makes them perfect for the PACER concept. Other than cost, the problems it had were finding underground caverns big enough, and dealing with radiation leaks. Pure fusion devices would solve both these problems.Matter Beamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16721504049578296529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-79535146253548093352022-08-27T08:33:25.487+01:002022-08-27T08:33:25.487+01:00Could pure fusion bombs reuslt in a revival of the...Could pure fusion bombs reuslt in a revival of the project pacer concept? I.e. build a fusion reactor by dropping bombs into an underground cavern filled with water. As I understand it the isues were primerily economics and politics, but the whole setup needed to be big due to the power levels of the bombs. I shudder to think of ecomies of scale for nuclear weapons manufacturing, but once one has a viable design, the mass production seems quite doable. So, the crux of the matter is, it it reasonable to assume that the production cost of an SOAF device could be lower than the price of energy it releases?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-23929700220657394372022-06-26T22:25:37.563+01:002022-06-26T22:25:37.563+01:00Ohh, they call me Mr Huff and Puff, but I’m not in...Ohh, they call me Mr Huff and Puff, but I’m not in the huff, and I’m not a puff … I just want to make sweet love, to her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-47664530654869005742022-06-22T01:47:25.226+01:002022-06-22T01:47:25.226+01:00Indeed. Perhaps it will always be 25 years in the ...Indeed. Perhaps it will always be 25 years in the future...<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-4397467723330691992022-06-09T14:18:37.580+01:002022-06-09T14:18:37.580+01:00Hi Keith.
It's difficult to assess how diffic...Hi Keith.<br /><br />It's difficult to assess how difficult this sort of device will be. The concept is pretty simple: translate HE energy into compression of fusion fuel. With an advanced 3D printer, you could make it at home. But getting it perfectly right and ironing out all the kinks is going to be very difficult - you are facing some of the same challenges that NIF and the many fusion startups are struggling to solve despite billions of dollars in funding and decades of effort. Matter Beamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16721504049578296529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-22152539408866048292022-06-08T22:13:44.757+01:002022-06-08T22:13:44.757+01:00I'm curious as to the what level of technical ...I'm curious as to the what level of technical expertise and capital expenditure is likely to be required if/when pure-fusion devices are developed. Could they be developed by only a very few nation states (similar to today's nuclear powers), by disgruntled high school students, or somewhere in-between? <br /><br />Keith HalperinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-66388572157603486102022-05-21T02:23:42.506+01:002022-05-21T02:23:42.506+01:00Thank you!
Yeah, it was eye-opening to me too.Thank you!<br />Yeah, it was eye-opening to me too.Matter Beamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16721504049578296529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-25672243573171801562022-05-21T02:14:03.606+01:002022-05-21T02:14:03.606+01:00It's really amazing that nuclear pulse propuls...It's really amazing that nuclear pulse propulsion *still* has tough-to-beat performance even with the handicap of not having ready access to fissile materials. Good post.Adamas Nemesishttps://www.adamasnemesis.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-84646209815714001712022-05-09T15:31:48.029+01:002022-05-09T15:31:48.029+01:00Numbah one: Any fusion reactor or device is a prol...Numbah one: Any fusion reactor or device is a proliferation risk because its neutrons can produce Pu-239 and U-233 from Nat U and Nat Th.<br /><br />Numbah two: General Fusion is gigaretarded and high school educated. Plasmas have practically infinite thermal conductivity and as soon as that liquid liner comes into contact it cools. Also the liner is too slow.<br /><br />Numbah three: That's terror.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150340806781551727.post-82728476489095134632022-05-09T08:54:47.053+01:002022-05-09T08:54:47.053+01:00Well I was thinking of project orion SSTO belly la...Well I was thinking of project orion SSTO belly landers with pusher plate tail ends.<br /><br />Not the less realistic scifi torchship. The main advantage of external pulse propulsion is that it can harness higher energy for it's propulsion precisely because it occurs outside the spaceship.<br /><br />From what I have read and posts by folks who love to calculate the theoretical, a torchship that was on par or better than project orion would likely be larger still, since getting rid of high waste heat levels involves enough propellant mass leaving the engine bell to carry it away.<br /><br />The end result is a spaceship with a giant fuel tank and nozzle that is mostly fuel tank.... seems like the tyranny of the rocket equation means that you will always have a higher percentage of cargo space dedicated to propellant than anything else. I reckon external pulse propulsion could have better 'propellant' to cargo ratios, since the whole point of a spaceship is to ship stuff other than propellant.<br /><br />Magnetic fields deflect radiation by deflecting what are called cosmic rays, which are actually fast moving tiny particles that cause radiation when they strike anything in space.<br /><br />Any thing that is just an actual electromagnetic ray it won't work on as far as I know.<br /><br />Magnets have no effect on deflecting light rays as far as I know.<br /><br />spacescifihttps://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/profile/197504-spacescifi/noreply@blogger.com