Antimatter Fuel: Will Future Space Travel Rely on It?

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    Antimatter Fuel
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the potential use of antimatter as fuel for future space travel, exploring the feasibility, costs, and physical laws involved in harnessing antimatter for propulsion. Participants examine both theoretical and practical aspects of this concept.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the practicality of using antimatter as fuel, noting that it currently takes significantly more energy to produce antimatter than the energy it could potentially yield.
  • Concerns are raised about the costs associated with producing antimatter, with one participant citing an estimated cost of 62 trillion US dollars for just 1 gram of antihydrogen.
  • There is discussion about the physical laws that would complicate the use of antimatter for propulsion, particularly regarding momentum conservation and the potential for explosive reactions when antimatter interacts with matter.
  • One participant suggests that while antimatter could be a good fuel, the financial and safety challenges must be addressed before it could be considered viable.
  • References to science fiction are made, comparing theoretical antimatter propulsion concepts to fictional technologies, which some participants find interesting in the context of societal reflections on science.
  • Another participant emphasizes the current limitations in storing meaningful quantities of antimatter, suggesting that significant advancements would be necessary for practical use.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the feasibility of antimatter as a fuel source, with no consensus reached. While some acknowledge its potential, others highlight significant barriers, including cost and safety concerns.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the current inability to produce and store antimatter in meaningful quantities, as well as unresolved questions regarding the economic viability of antimatter production and its implications for propulsion systems.

Debaa
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Will we be able to harness antimatter so precisely that we use it as fuel in the future? I mean this would mean a great deal in space travel! Thoughts?
 
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Give us some more of your thoughts to provide some context for this double question:
If it takes a million times more energy to make the stuff than it can produce, wouldn't it be rather 'expensive' ?
When used as 'fuel' (probably in the form of annihilation) there's a few physical laws that resist 'harnessing' -- such as momentum conservation. How do you think we could bend that to obtain propulsion ?
 
BvU said:
Give us some more of your thoughts to provide some context for this double question:
If it takes a million times more energy to make the stuff than it can produce, wouldn't it be rather 'expensive' ?
When used as 'fuel' (probably in the form of annihilation) there's a few physical laws that resist 'harnessing' -- such as momentum conservation. How do you think we could bend that to obtain propulsion ?
My bad. I meant not as a matter of expence but as a matter of exploration of space.
 
Dale said:
I like this idea better:
https://arxiv.org/abs/0908.1803

I fully realize that this post will probably get dinged for being un-scientific, but can I just point out that's how a Romulan Warbird is powered, while the OP's idea is how the Enterprise is powered? I just think it's interesting to see the reflection of society's constructs against the actual theoretical physics.

OK, my inner nerd is back in the closet. Sorry again, I'll make him do pushups until he apologizes.
 
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Currently, it is too hard to store meaningful quantities of antimatter to be used as fuel. I don't see that changing any time soon.
 
It might be a good fuel, but a very important factor is money. For 1 gram of anti hydrogen, it costs 62 TRILLION US dollars to make it, and this is only 1 GRAM. I don't think it's ever possible to actually get this kind of money, only for 1 gram! Other than that, the antimatter fusing with matter could also create an explosion. If this explosion SOMEHOW can be contained AND the money won't be that much, then I would think that this is a good idea!
 

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