[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Engineering Newsletter
On Fri, 19 Jan 1996, Timothy van der Linden wrote:
> >I think the heat could be kept below the melting point of silicon. As
> >the Temperature goes up, so does the blackbody radiation.
>
> But since the doped silicon is quite temperature sensative 100 degrees extra
> may have a bigger effect than you would expect.
I guess that I have more confidence in materials science advances, I
think that a Photovoltaic material can be manufactured that will work in
the high temp/high rad environment
> >
> >
> >That reminds me of a great new travel method making use of Hiesenberg
> >Uncertainty principle: as Temperature approaches Abs Zero, Momentum
> >becomes zero to the last decimal, and the position becomes _infinite_.
>
> It is not the position that becomes infinite but the PROBABILITY of its
> position that becomes infinite. May look the same, but is different. The
Ah, yes, I see. I knew that, but must have forgotten it. so i guess it
would work, you just would be able to steer. Oh well. Back to the
drawing board.
> The fact that a particle can move lightyears be everywhere is As you can
> see, this Although this may look as if it is conflict with the finite speed
> of light there is a deeper understanding that solves this "paradox".
I'm sorry, I don't understand your language here. Can you please
re-phrase, check your dictionary, or insert the word or words you may
have dropped.
> >Solid yes. Metal, no. at one atm, hydrogen becomes an ice-like solid,
> >which does not have any free electrons. only at great pressures
> >(ie Jovian core) does the hydrogen take on any metallic properties.
>
> I didn't know that, do you know a subject or book about that, where I can
> search for in a library?
Sorry no, it's part of the great storehouse of knowledge that i have come
across in almost fifteen years of reading every science magazine I can
get my hands on. i think this subject appeared in OMNI, someone
somewhere was claiming to have put a _lot_ of pressure on a small sample
of hydrogen and gotten it to a metal state.
> >> (Note: Probably all robots will be worn out after a few years, so you may
> >> need 3 or 4 times more than you originally would think, that would only cost
> >> a few days extra)
> >
> >Any robot could probably repaired far cheaper than it could be re-built
> >from scratch, and this could be done at any time, not just at the outset
>
> Repairing is rather difficult, for some dumb replicating machine it is
> probably much easier to make a new one than to look for the non-working part
> and replace it. It is just like a conveyer belt, there is a gain because of
> the repetative task.
OK, I see. but a small number of units could be devoted to the constant
manufacture of robots (which would then go off and do other things) so
that replacement units were always ready.
>
> >in thinking about this, i was struck by the comment you made about the
> >radius of the solar collector being about the same as the face of the
> >moon, and i thought, what if instead of putting it (the collector) in
> >orbit around the sun at Mercury's distance, why not just cover the
> >surface of mercury with solar panels? (not too difficult if you have
> >self-replicating robots) They could exist underground safely, and the
> >maser array could be placed on the south pole of mercury (TC is below the
> >ecliptic) Mercury would provide more than enough counter-weight for the
> >beam, and the low gravity would assist the robots in maintaining the arrays
>
> Yes, that would also solve the problem of the solar-panels and laser-array
> being blow away by the photon pressure. A problem still present, is that the
> laser-array has to be directed, wich may be a problem on a rotating planet.
Perhaps not a problem at all, earth based telescopes track distant stars
all the time. Being placed at a polar position would decrease the
rotational velocity to be countered, and if the problem is
insurmountable, then an orbiting waveguide can be used
>
> >> Computer circuits mostly need semi-conductors, so I think super-conductors
> >
> >Ever hear of a Josephson <sp?> junction?
>
> Yes, but as far as I know a Josepson junction has nothing to do with
> transistor like properties. (Or am I mistaken?)
>
> (What does <sp?> mean?)
<sp?> means spelling uncertain. i think a Josepson <your spelling>
junction is a tunneling transistor, and it only works in superconducting
conditions, but don't ask me why, maybe steve knows.
> It is fundamental, it is limited by the paramagnetic energy of the
> electrons. If too many electrons are moving, the special conditions are
> distroyed and superconduction is lost. I looked through some books and found
> that the maximum magnetic field possible for a certain superconductor with
> Tc=20K was 36 Tesla (Probably enough) But I still don't know the maximum
> current.
>
> The field would be have the same value at 1 cm distance from the center of a
> wire that conducts 350 Ampere. (rough approximation).
350 amps in a 1 cm wire ain't all that bad, but I know that the ceramic
superconductors aren't nearly that good.
>
> >Keivn
>
> Is that your name in phonetic language? :)
>
Know, eye Think That Kell'ys Bad Speeling virus Has infected me. ;)
Kevin