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   rec.arts.sf.science      Real and speculative aspects of SF scien      45,986 messages   

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   Message 45,632 of 45,986   
   Mike Van Pelt to jaimie@sometimes.sessile.org   
   Re: Potential torch drives   
   04 Jan 19 20:33:27   
   
   From: mvp@web1.calweb.com   
      
   In article <0ocv2elif9qkn3tb09bvgcor2hhn4jrtf0@4ax.com>,   
   Jaimie Vandenbergh   wrote:   
   >Even if anything did precipitate and fall to the bottom, the turbulence   
   >from pumping and acceleration/rotation etc would keep it pretty well   
   >stirred. Not to mention that on any approach to critical mass (and   
   >density) the heat would boil the aqeous and give it a real mix.   
      
   Plus, to get the Earth-Shattering Kaboom, it's not enough to   
   have a critical mass.  You have to bring together a mass that is   
   critical on prompt neutrons alone *very very quickly* and keep   
   it together until a significant percentage of the fissionable   
   material fissions.  Otherwise, you get a fizzle.   
      
   (See: Hiroshima "gun" design, Nagasaki "implosion" design.)   
      
   --   
   Mike Van Pelt       |  "I don't advise it unless you're nuts."   
   mvp at calweb.com   |   -- Ray Wilkinson, after riding out Hurricane   
   KE6BVH              |      Ike on Surfside Beach in Galveston   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)   

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