Anti-matter!

Anti-matter! (Full Version)

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FirmhandKY -> Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 8:21:30 AM)
Antimatter belt around Earth discovered by Pamela craft 7 August 2011 A thin band of antimatter particles called antiprotons enveloping the Earth has been spotted for the first time. The find, described in Astrophysical Journal Letters, confirms theoretical work that predicted the Earth's magnetic field could trap antimatter. The team says a small number of antiprotons lie between the Van Allen belts of trapped "normal" matter. The researchers say there may be enough to implement a scheme using antimatter to fuel future spacecraft. A space drive ... I like that idea. But not the thought of an antimatter bomb.[:(] Firm

Moonhead -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 8:43:39 AM)
If it's only stray particles mixed among the normal stuff, is there even going to be enough up there for a firecracker, never mind a space drive?

Hillwilliam -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 8:45:29 AM)
Someone is probably looking for a way to weaponize it as we speak. As for a drive. No Dilithium Crystals to be found. [8D]

Moonhead -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 8:50:32 AM)
You do wonder how they're planning to collect the antiprotons without those. [:D]

mnottertail -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 8:50:54 AM)
Ja, I don't see how they could collect enough negatrons and have them stable and contained, we sorta work in the anti-anti realm here, so our magnetic fuel tanks....... I would kinda not want to be the poor fuckin guy working as the gas station attendant. Here I is, no I ain't!!!! You can bet thats gonna hurt.

FirmhandKY -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 9:22:20 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Moonhead If it's only stray particles mixed among the normal stuff, is there even going to be enough up there for a firecracker, never mind a space drive? It doesn't take much antimatter to give off a heck of a lot of energy. Firm

LillyBoPeep -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 9:23:36 AM)
how did i not know about this satellite? haha it's not often you see that name used anymore; and as an acronym no less! neat! anyway, that's very cool. ^_^ but Hill's right; there's someone somewhere trying to figure out how to make bombs out of it. =p

Moonhead -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 9:25:15 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY quote: ORIGINAL: Moonhead If it's only stray particles mixed among the normal stuff, is there even going to be enough up there for a firecracker, never mind a space drive? It doesn't take much antimatter to give off a heck of a lot of energy. Firm Nope. Can't think of any spacecraft you or the Russians have put through the van allen belts that's run into any, though, and ground control would soon know about it if something did, wouldn't they?

windchymes -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 9:27:08 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LillyBoPeep how did i not know about this satellite? haha it's not often you see that name used anymore; and as an acronym no less! neat! anyway, that's very cool. ^_^ but Hill's right; there's someone somewhere trying to figure out how to make bombs out of it. =p I couldn't help smiling at the name, too [:)] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAfC350g6sM

mnottertail -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 9:37:39 AM)
The Sea Is so Wide and My Boat Is so Small. I cannot find what the energy release is for a collision of a negatron and proton, but it cannot be too huge in a 1ie. There is some evidence that negatrons could be used to treat certain cancers.........

Moonhead -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 9:46:42 AM)
The absence of any exploding moonshots* does suggest that you'd need a bit more antimatter than a couple of negatrons, sadly. *(Apart from Apollo 13, where the explosion was caused by a short in the electricals and a leaking oxygen tank, rather than anything external.)

DomKen -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 3:25:25 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Moonhead quote: ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY quote: ORIGINAL: Moonhead If it's only stray particles mixed among the normal stuff, is there even going to be enough up there for a firecracker, never mind a space drive? It doesn't take much antimatter to give off a heck of a lot of energy. Firm Nope. Can't think of any spacecraft you or the Russians have put through the van allen belts that's run into any, though, and ground control would soon know about it if something did, wouldn't they? We're talking single anti protons here. the destruction of one proton and one antiproton (what happens if the two collide) is very energetic for the mass involved but the mass is still really really small. E=mc^2 m in this case is 2* 1.672 * 10^-30 grams c = 3* 10^8 m/s (rounded) so energy is 3 * 10^-13 (gm/s^2) which converts to 3 * 10^-20 joules.

Moonhead -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 4:29:23 PM)
I know that it's a small amount of energy from a reaction involving subatomic masses. Tell Limpwrist, not me.

DomKen -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 4:58:52 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Moonhead I know that it's a small amount of energy from a reaction involving subatomic masses. Tell Limpwrist, not me. I was just backing up what you were saying. limpwrst has been pretending to have me on ignore since the last time I had to explain math and physics to him.

Moonhead -> RE: Anti-matter! (8/9/2011 5:04:35 PM)
My bad. I didn't realise he was up to that.

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