Re: Eidetic Anti Matter
James Rogers (jamesr@best.com)
Mon, 21 Jul 1997 14:14:42 -0700
At 10:38 AM 7/20/97 -0400, Franklin wrote:
>jaan.ranniko@smtpgw.aftrs.edu.au wrote:
>
>> I once heard some science show say that the energy yield from a
>> theoretical anti matter engine would get us to Pluto in nine
>> minutes...I more recently heard that a wee chunk of it has been
>> manufactured and am curious as to what's to be done with it.
>>
>> Anyone got any clues?
>
>Last year I got a chance to hear from the director of Los Alamos Nat'l Lab.
> I asked him if the lab was working on any weapons with a yield substantially
>greater than thermonuclear weapons. His response was, "I cannot comment on
>that at this time." After the seminar, one of our professors asked him,
>"Haven't you manufactured some anti-matter?" The director refused to answer.
>
>I take it that means that it exists in a national laboratory, but they have
>not yet acknowledged its existence. What is to be done with it is another
>matter entirely.
My understanding is that anti-matter, despite being highly energetic, makes
poor bomb material. The results would resemble something more like an
extremely energetic fizzle than an explosion and is far too difficult to
handle in quantity. Not at all economical in comparison to more
conventional nuclear materials. Research in anti-matter as a military toy
has been directed more towards (anti-)particle beams and the like.
-James Rogers
jamesr@best.com