4 ms·
> We find that a thickness of 34000 light years would be necessary if a sheet of osmium were used, whereas neutron star matter could achieve this at 189 km thic
by dfee 6y ago
> We find that a thickness of 34000 light years would be necessary if a sheet of osmium were used, whereas neutron star matter could achieve this at 189 km thickness. We conclude that a neutrino sail is not a practical method of propulsion.
Not practical, hmm?
- short_sells_poo 6y agoI think that even if we ignore the practicality of building it, at that thickness the neutron star material would immediately collapse into a black hole :)
- jbay808 6y agoThe osmium, too!
- ur-whale 6y agoNew theory: maybe black holes are scrapped alien neutrino detectors?
- dmurray 6y agoHow about a whole system of neutron stars, in orbit around each other, separated by vacuum, arranged for a given straight-line path in order that at any point in time that path intersects at least 189 km worth of neutron stars? Is this possible? I'm considering a loose definition of the word "possible" here, but could such an arrangement exist without collapsing to a black hole under gravity or being torn apart by centrifugal force?
- serf 6y ago>How about a whole system of neutron stars, in orbit around each other that's a neat idea. the orbital mechanics involved are pretty mind-boggling, but I guess a civilization that could create a system of neutron stars could probably deal with the math ;).
- ajuc 6y agoEven a very small blackhole would catch all neutrinos that pass it, right? So maybe we could use them as neutrino detectors and/or sails :) Hm, can we detect big black holes that way - looking at their neutrino shadow?