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> Also, I question the explosion claim. Without confinement, the energy drops below the threshold necessary for fusion and the reaction stops I am not a physic
by worik 2y ago
> Also, I question the explosion claim. Without confinement, the energy drops below the threshold necessary for fusion and the reaction stops
I am not a physicist
I expect the sudden failure of magnetic confinement would lead to a chemical explosion because of super heated plasma
- nine_k 2y agoThe amount of plasma in such a reactor would likely be fractions of a milligram. What would scare me more is an asymmetric loss of the magnetic field, which would produce a huge and not-designed-for mechanical stress, potentially leading to pieces of the superstructure breaking off and flying at high speeds, pushed by the very strong magnetic field.
- __MatrixMan__ 2y agoAlso, a fraction of a milligram of plasma, suddenly free to roam about the entire to toroid rather than confined to a small part of it would lose temperature rapidly. But yeah, magnets throwing around chunks of each other, and chunks of radioactive shielding, would be an unpleasant thing.