Plasma shields like in star trek will they be possible

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of plasma shields, akin to those depicted in science fiction, particularly in the context of protecting spacecraft or soldiers. Participants explore theoretical concepts, potential experiments, and the limitations of current technology related to plasma and shielding mechanisms.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference the concept of plasma windows and express skepticism about their practicality due to high energy requirements and potential harm to the vessel or personnel.
  • There is a discussion about the nature of plasma, with some asserting that it must remain hot to maintain its state, while others propose the idea of cold plasma and its potential applications.
  • One participant suggests using ionized cold plasma contained by electromagnets as a protective measure, while others challenge the viability of this approach.
  • Concerns are raised about the effectiveness of plasma shields against high-speed projectiles, with some arguing that vaporized projectiles could still pose a threat.
  • Participants discuss the limitations of magnetic fields and their inability to stop uncharged projectiles, questioning the applicability of current technologies like the Trophy system.
  • There are references to experimental phenomena, such as levitating frogs, and whether similar principles could be applied to deflect projectiles, though skepticism remains about their practicality.
  • Some participants express doubts about the existence of a theoretical application that could absorb all kinetic energy from high-speed objects, suggesting alternatives like thick armor or close-in defense systems.
  • One participant humorously reflects on the unrealistic nature of science fiction technologies, emphasizing the challenges posed by the conservation of momentum.
  • There is a proposal for ablative plasma as a theoretical possibility, involving engineered plasma spheres that could react upon necessity.
  • Another participant clarifies that a "plasma shield" might refer to protection against plasma projectiles rather than being made of plasma itself.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no consensus on the feasibility of plasma shields or alternative protective technologies. Multiple competing ideas and uncertainties remain throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on definitions of plasma, the unresolved nature of proposed technologies, and the speculative aspects of science fiction comparisons.

  • #31
The concept of a plasma shield does not make sense if you are trying to shield a phyiscal missile. However, the Starship Enterprise will be attacked by high energy beams, of particles or photons (phasors). A plasma shield makes a lot of sense in this case. A magnetic field can be used as a vessel and it can be filed with a plasma to act as a shield very similar to the van allen belts. Radiation will be scattered by the plasma. The plasma can absord and dissipate the energy very effectively whereas a metal shield would melt. Even today if we were to go to Mars on a manned mission plasma shields would probably be needed because of the solar flares.
 
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  • #32
what if you could contain a gas inside a field, plasma is a gas that can increase in density/viscosity...its scientifically probably possible to stop a bullet because the Earth exists as example, it has a shield impenetrable to bullets, our atmosphere cannot be penetrated by bullets, it requires a huge mass in order of several million bullets in mass, traveling at many times speed of bullet out of a gun to have enough mass left to barely harm the bumper of an old model T. 2 spaceships stationary fighting each other will not have weapons of such velocity or mass. The Earth is only several kilometer of dense air if you even call it that since we live inside of that section of air.
 
  • #33
palsmashield said:
what if you could contain a gas inside a field, plasma is a gas that can increase in density/viscosity...

Plasma is not a gas, but I think I get what you are saying.

its scientifically probably possible to stop a bullet because the Earth exists as example, it has a shield impenetrable to bullets, our atmosphere cannot be penetrated by bullets, it requires a huge mass in order of several million bullets in mass, traveling at many times speed of bullet out of a gun to have enough mass left to barely harm the bumper of an old model T. 2 spaceships stationary fighting each other will not have weapons of such velocity or mass. The Earth is only several kilometer of dense air if you even call it that since we live inside of that section of air.

You cannot contain plasma in a field like this. The magnets that create the magnetic field to contain the plasma would be OUTSIDE the plasma, as charged particles move away from the stronger areas of a magnetic field.
 
  • #34
I am strongly considering a type of external hot plasma around some ships in my novel. Having looked at some research that's been done I found out that the density of the plasma between electrodes varies with the frequency employed. So the higher the AC frequency, the denser the field will become. That also might address the comment about attracting ferrous asteroids since AC should act neutrally if not even be slightly repulsive.

I saw the article mentioned earlier and it can hold air from crossing, which is a low density gas, but at extremely high frequencies and perhaps with dust plasma, there may be sufficient density to perhaps not vaporize a high speed object, but rather like some military strategies for ICBM defenses, which just throw something like BB shot into its path, it let's the high speed impact caused by the projectile to destroy itself in passing through the pack. At least the explosive component will be destroyed passing through the 'shield' in our case. And if dense enough, perhaps it will be slowed or blunted enough to shred enough so that it will not impact on one single point on the hull; reducing damage, maybe significantly.

For the energies I am enabling and high frequencies for my story "Ring Gate", it's enough to be 'reasonably effective' though not impervious. Of course real-life and your mileage may vary. It works much better to diffuse laser beams than stop kinetic-based weapons. And there are ways to be mostly protected with small open windows to see passed the shield clearly, which would also be a consideration for a real plasma shied.
But I can't divulge all my secrets here. :approve:
 
  • #35
MikeBH said:
of particles or photons (phasors).

Oh my!... they're phasers, not phasors.


Carry on... :smile:


OCR
 

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