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Scientists Claim Antimatter Breakthrough
Ananova ^
| 9-18-2002
Posted on 09/18/2002 11:47:20 AM PDT by blam
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To: Aric2000
Actually, it's not beyond imagination. A matter-antimatter reaction will release the energy equivalent of twice the mass of the antimatter. That is, the mass of the anti-matter, and an equivalent mass of matter, are totally converted to energy. The old standby, E equals m c-squared.
It makes the biggest nuke look like a kiddy firecracker.
By "large quantitities", they're likely talking micrograms, or milligrams at most. Previous production has been in the several-atomic-particles to several-atoms range. . .
61
posted on
09/18/2002 1:30:58 PM PDT
by
Salgak
To: Redcloak
"We've secretly replaced the dilithium crystals in the warp drive with Folger's Crystals. Let's see if Scotty can tell the difference. . . . ."
62
posted on
09/18/2002 1:33:49 PM PDT
by
Salgak
To: Chemist_Geek
just over four trillionths of a kWh. Thanks for running the numbers. I figured that 50,000 hydrogen atoms (or protons, almost the same from a mass/energy standpoint) wasn't enough to even produce a noticeable "pop!", let alone something usefull.
63
posted on
09/18/2002 1:34:07 PM PDT
by
El Gato
To: Kozak
Actually, the US military commisioned some studies on anti-matter weapons years back and decided that even if the antimatter could be generated cheaply and easily the bombs wouldn't be worth it.
This is mainly because the energy of a chemical or atomic reaction (explosives or nukes) tends to be translated into concussion and other blast effects (not to mention radioactive fallout) that extend the damage radius of the weapon. A matter-antimatter collision releases energy across a wide spectrum with very little concussive effect, making it a great fuel but a lousy bomb...
To: Salgak
"We've secretly replaced the dilithium crystals in the warp drive with Folger's Crystals. Let's see if Scotty can tell the difference. . . . ."LOL VERY funny; I think my workmates think I'm crazy for bursting out laughing for no reason just now. hehe
To: Redcloak
The anti-matter's the easy part. Let's see 'em gin up some dilithium crystals. Go here and look at Crystals.
Unfortunately, they seem to be out of stock.
To: Kozak
So if we're now worried about suitcase nukes, an anti-matter device would be more like a keychain nuke?
How long before the human race turned such technology upon each other?
67
posted on
09/18/2002 2:00:18 PM PDT
by
Bon mots
To: El Gato
I figured that 50,000 hydrogen atoms (or protons, almost the same from a mass/energy standpoint) wasn't enough to even produce a noticeable "pop!", let alone something usefull.No, but I think that it's more than we have ever made at one time before, so it is a significant accomplishment.
When we manage to make 1.00 mg of anti-hydrogen, and assuming 100% efficiency in annihilation, then we'll be cooking. (180 GJ, or equivalently, 49.9 MWh...)
To: BenLurkin
Are you kidding? Haven't you seen what happens in Star Trek when they lose containment of the warp core?
69
posted on
09/18/2002 2:28:42 PM PDT
by
drmatt
To: ShadowAce
It's this process which provides the power source for Starship Enterprise in its film and TV space adventures.
Make it so number 1
To: El Gato
If my calculations are correct (long time since physics class) the energy released from the annihilation of 50,000 atoms of anti-hydrogen (and the corresponding 50,000 atoms of hydrogen) would be about 150 ergs. Again relying on my distant memories, I believe I once was told that an erg was approximately the energy required for a fly to do one pushup.
71
posted on
09/19/2002 7:01:48 AM PDT
by
3Lean
Comment #72 Removed by Moderator
73
posted on
07/15/2011 7:18:47 AM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
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