Posted by
CKHustler on Friday, May 14, 2010 11:25:47 PM
Ive been pondering the possibility of an actual shield from anything including radiation to physical attacks. Magnetic fields seem to be the only way to do such a thing since nothing is immune to the pull of magnetism. This of course would have to be paired with a powerful enough energy source, such that we might have to assume a fusion cell may be invented at some point. Given that, we need to find a way to control a magnetic field so that it is powerful enough to repel something, yet will not wreak havoc on anything other than the object flying towards it. I did some research and super permalloys do exist that have a permeability much higher than any pure metal. Im not sure of the exact mixture it took to attain the following numbers, but the table on source site does show a super permalloy that has ultra high permeability, yet disperses the magnetic energy once the field dissipates.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/tables/magprop.html
This alloy needs to be cooled, yet if we are to start this experimenting on our astronauts and NASA spacecrafts, we can assume the uses would be needed in space, which would help in the cooling of the material. This would greatly reduce the energy needed to keep the alloy at the necessary temperature. Further into the future, for say military use on single soldiers may require a more profound solution to this problem.
Line the outside of a ship with multiple layers of this alloy. I was thinking that the outer layer would be connected and the inner layers would not. They would be turned perpendicular to the magnetic field until the layer directly outer to it has been damaged enough to stop working as intended. Once that happens they would align and form the next layer of defense. This would concentrate the field into the outer layer creating a more powerful magnetic field, rather than spreading out the same energy. The field should now flow though the hull of the spacecraft because that is the path of least resistance for the magnetic field. Assuming we have a powerful enough energy source, the magnetic field should protect the ship from most anything. Anything physical coming at the ship might come in contact with the outer portion of the alloy until it comes in contact with the magnetic field, which it will then be pushed in another direction. The outer layer may sustain damage, in which case the next layer will align and replace the outer layer as the carrier of the magnetic field.
This is of course a half-baked idea. All theorizing and nothing to back it up, not even expertise. I think better when I write things down though, so where better than here? Im sure there are lots of holes and wrong assumptions, but its a basis of my thought anyways.