2 ms·

Nuclear Pumped Lasers

• ggm 4y ago
  The period in time where "...with a bomb" was their version of ".. with a computer" But the direct application of energetic particles to laser physics would seem to be relevant: why bother going through intermediate stages if you can "pump" energy into the system as Xrays or Neutrons or whatever? "operation successful but patient died in recovery" vibes in a lot of this. But, experiments to find the minimum laser energy for fusion-ignition, or for ablative launch/engine methods, or simply for some fundamental engineering tests .. sure! why not! I mean bombs were blown up for worserer reasons: they did some tests just to keep Los Alamos new staff up to snuff. If you can get over how the nuclear stuff gets into space, and you have enough of this, then "we keep the engine local by firing a nuclear pumped laser at the spacecraft" might work, which has been the backbone of several Niven/Pournelle story arcs
  • MrBuddyCasino 4y ago
    Tbh the non-bomb version kind of seems reasonable? I found myself secretly wishing for nuclear-powered EUV lithography.
    • ggm 4y ago
      Got them neutrons? Use 'em!