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Re: USING A ELECTROMAGNETIC BEAM TO PROPELL A STARSHIP
- To: T.L.G.vanderLinden@student.utwente.nl (Timothy van der Linden)
- Subject: Re: USING A ELECTROMAGNETIC BEAM TO PROPELL A STARSHIP
- From: kgstar@most.fw.hac.com (Kelly Starks x7066 MS 10-39)
- Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 12:22:10 -0500
- Cc: KellySt@aol.com, kgstar@most.fw.hac.com, stevev@efn.org, jim@bogie2.bio.purdue.edu, zkulpa@zmit1.ippt.gov.pl, hous0042@maroon.tc.umn.edu, rddesign@wolfenet.com, David@InterWorld.com, lparker@destin.gulfnet.com, DotarSojat@aol.com, neill@foda.math.usu.edu, 101765.2200@compuserve.com, MLEN3097@Mercury.GC.PeachNet.EDU
At 6:18 PM 6/5/96, Timothy van der Linden wrote:
>Kevin wrote:
>>> I tried to keep it in the middle (laser or maser), at some places I even
>>> used EM-beams. I don't understand the explanation with your numbers above:
>>> You say the cost of a beaming station increases because the conversion from
>>> sunlight into electricity is ~ 10%, but masers don't need electricity too?
>>
>>What I mean is that while there could be a way to turn sunlight to laser light
>>without going through an in-between step like electricity, there is no way to
>>do this for masers. The sun's microwave output is just too dim compared
>>to its
>>visible output.
>
>Huh? I got the idea that you preferred maser because it is so efficient, now
>your saying that laser may not need an in-between-step, from which I would
>conclude that laser is a preferred method.
>
>Oh wait, you are pointing at two things here:
>maser: needs an extra step, easy to convert to electricity
>laser: may not need an extra step, less easy to convert to electricity
>Did I get it right?
The sail system for a microwave beam sail is simpler and lighter than for a
laser sail.
Of course if your using my hybrid fuel/sail configuration you want a havyer
sail... ;)
>>>>>9 Red shift is especially important when the starship reaches relativistic
>>
>>Okay, so it is an increased cost, and not a technical difficulty
>
>It may become a technical difficulty if the shift becomes too large, then
>the reflectivity (and absorption) may change for the worse. While it may not
>matter much that some energy is lost, it may matter that a small part (even
><0.001%) of high intensity radiation enters the crew space filled with
>sensitive computers etc.
Given the power levels were tossing about a .001% absorbtion would melt the
ship.
>>> 12.
>>> Yes, I know, but that doesn't decrease the weight of the sail, which may
>>> become a crucial point in the whole design. I'll add this in the solution
>>> section.
>>
>>Agreed. I like Kelly's idea of using 6Li for the sail, very elegant.
Thank you.
>Unless we need a sail for the way back home...
You make a new, far smaller & lighter, sail before you leave for home.
>>> Advantages:
>
>>> >3) Ship can accelerate continously, taking advantage of the time dialation
>>> >effect. and providing the crew with a near normal gravity environment
>>>
>>> Are other designs like fusion engines not able to do this? (in theory) The
>>> advantages of time dilations are not clear to me (see also 9)
>>
>>I think the problem with the fusion rockets, is that in order to accelerate
>>continuously, the need planatary sized fuel tanks. Kelly's top speed is about
>>.4C and that's taking advantage of every trick in the book.
<..and if anyone can suggest other books...>
>I agree, but it is only partly true, since you also need to decelerate using
>onboard reaction mass (not necessary fuel). If you accelerate too much, that
>amount of reaction mass needs to get bigger in order to be able to stop the
>starship.
>
>>The main advantages of
>>Kelly's hybrid fusion/maser design are
>>1) lowered cost
>>2) decell stage is independent of earth.
I'ld add in technical fesability. We still haven't fiqured out how to
brake a pure sail ship into a unprepared starsystem.
Also power requirements should be far less.
>>The advantage of time dialations, is that _all_ stars (within reason of
>course)
>>tend to be nearly the same time away (as seen by the crew) and much
>>savings of
>>food and other supplies can be acheived. Also, regardless of the actual
>(earth-
>>based) time of flight, earth (or the return masers) only need to send out
>about
>>a two-year long pulse of energy to sustain the flight
Did you mean to say return masers? Obviously the 2 year pulse bit works
outgoing, but not incoming, ships.
Kelly
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kelly Starks Internet: kgstar@most.fw.hac.com
Sr. Systems Engineer
Magnavox Electronic Systems Company
(Magnavox URL: http://www.fw.hac.com/external.html)
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