Force Fields

Carbon Nanotubes - National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

Theory

According to Michio Kaku's theory presented in his book "Physics of the Impossible", a multi layered forcefield could work if it consisted of an outer layer of supercharged plasma window heated to temperatures hot enough to vaporize metals, a second layer consisting of curtains of high-energy laser beams in a lattice which would heat up objects that passed through it causing the objects to vaporize, and a third layer consisting of a lattice of carbon nanotubes which would create a screen of extraordinary strength and be capable of repelling objects. The carbon nanotube screen would be invisible which would make it unable to stop laser beams unless photochromatics were used to change the optical properties of the carbon nanotube screen when exposed to laser light.

Plasma Window

The plasma window fills a volume of space with plasma which is confined by a magnetic shield. It was invented by Ady Hershcovitch at the Bookhaven National Laboratory and patented in 1995. In 1996, the plasma valve was invented using a plasma window. Plasma windows are generally heated to 15, 000 Kelvin but the temperature varies depending upon the application. StarTram has included a plasma window in its proposal for a Generation 1 maglev space launch system.

Lasers

Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation which is basically how a laser works. The word "light" includes all forms of electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet, x-ray and infrared. There have been many people who have contributed to the invention of lasers over the last 75 years.

There are several different kinds of lasers including but not limited to gas lasers, chemical lasers, excimer lasers, solid-state lasers, fiber lasers, photonic crystal lasers, semiconductor lasers, dye lasers, free electron lasers, bio lasers and exotic laser media.

Lasers are currently used in consumer electronics, information technology, science, medicine, industry, law enforcement, entertainment and the military.

Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are hollow cylinders made of carbon atoms that are one-billioneth of a meter. they can act as either metals or semiconductors according to their varying structures. There are currently three different kinds of carbon nanontube sructures: single wall nanotubes, multi-wall nanotubes and double wall nanotubes.

They can be used for a wide variety of applications which include but is not limited to conductive plastics, structural composite materials, flat-panel displays, gas storage, anti-fouling paint, micro and nano electronics, radar-absorbing coating, technical textiles, ultra capacitors, atomic force microscope tips, batteries with improved lifetime, boosting solar energy storage by a factor of 10000, biosensors for harmful gases, cleaning polluted water and extra strong fibers.

Of the above list, conductive plastics, structural composite materials, gas storage, micro and nano electronics, radar-absorbing coating, ultra capacitors, cleaning poluted water, boosting solar energy storage by a factor of 10,000, technical textiles and biosensors for harmful gases could all be useful on a spaceship.

Nanocyl is one of several companies which makes epoxy resins modified with carbon nanotubes for the aeronautics industry among others. These modified epoxy resins help structural conductivity, strength and durability and can reduce weight.

Some other companies that are currently using carbon nanotubes in various projects are: Eagle Windpower, Easton, Unidym, Nanomix, Nano-Proprietary, Inc., ZinRay Systems, Zyvex Preformance Materials, Hyperion, Nano Lab, Nano Ledge, Nanocs, Amroy Europe Oy, Bayer Material Science, Cheap Tubes, Catalyric Materials, MER Corporations, NanoCarbLab, NanoAmor, Nanothinx, Rosseter Holdings, Nanoshel and Xintec.

Currently carbon nanotubes are too small to actually be used to form a force field. However, if the size were to increase considerably a carbon nanotube layer could be formed using double wall nanotubes.

Photochromatics

Photochromatics refers to the science involved in the reversible transformation of a chemical species between two forms by the absorption of electromagnetic radiation which typically presents itself as a change of colour when exposed to light.

Photochromatics have been in existence since the late 1880's in various forms and have been contributed and studied by various scientists including J. Fritzsche, E. ter Meer, T.L. Phipson, and W. Markwald.

Photochromatics is also known as photochromism, a term which was coined by Yehuda Hirshberg of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

Photochromatics are currently used primarily in colour changing lenses for sunglasses. However, they are also used in several different applications such as supramolecular chemistry, data storage and novelty items.

One type of photochromatics is referred to as gated photochromism which occurs when one or both forms of the photochromic system are transformed reversibly into a nonphotochromatic form. The gate will open or close depending on external factors such as protonation, oxido-reduction, solvation and temperature. (H. Bouas-Laurent and Heinz Dürr)

A second type of photochromatics is dual-mode photochromism which occurs when two different external factors, such as light and an electric current are triggered.

Dual-mode photochromism may work better when applied to a forcefield since it would only become active when two external factors come into play. However, that would need to be tested.

In conclusion, plasma windows, lasers and photochromatics could be used to make force fields today but carbon nanotubes are not quite ready due to their size.

Sources

Kaku, Michio. Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation and Time Travel. First Anchor Books Edition, April 2009 (c) 2008

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