How resilient is LPPX's focus fusion apparatus to plasmoid yields right now?

[MTd2]

I was wondering how resilient is the apparatus given that cathode + anode diameter is about 10cm. For example, for a positive net yield it would be equivalent sustain about 30grams of TNT exploding (4.6MJ/Kg) per shot.

[zapkitty]

You’ll find that if you wave your hands fast enough eventually you’ll take off and start flying around the room.

[MTd2]

zapkitty wrote: You’ll find that if you wave your hands fast enough eventually you’ll take off and start flying around the room.

This is not a joke. The muzzle energy of this gun is about 150KJ.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M230_Chain_Gun

[AaronB]

The energy is released as an X-ray pulse and an ion beam. The ion beam is directed toward the drift tube, which is like a gun barrel hanging down the axis of FF1. Right now, there isn’t enough energy being released to worry about it too much, but as we get to higher energy levels, we will have to slow it down so we don’t blast a hole through the cap on the drift tube. We’ll slow it down with the capture coil, and put that energy into a capacitor bank for recycling and usage on the grid. If we are using the DPF for propulsion in space, we’ll just let the ions fly off, giving the device a push in the opposite direction.

[zapkitty]

MTd2 wrote:

You’ll find that if you wave your hands fast enough eventually you’ll take off and start flying around the room.

This is not a joke. The muzzle energy of this gun is about 150KJ.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M230_Chain_Gun

I’m not even going to check your numbers this time…

But let’s say that each pulse generates a whole megajoule… what difference would it make?

Why?

Or, in other words, what parameters are missing from your scenario?

Handwaving is fun for invoking a background for a “what if” supposition… not so good when you say that you are trying to apply critical thinking.

Edit: quote added ’cause Aaron got there first

[Author]

Posts