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| Planetary Orbiting Nuclear Interceptor P.O.N.I. |
Alien Technology on Earth
the two halves of the core to come together. The critical core will overheat and fuse into slag.
2. By itself, the device cannot become supercritical. If it cannot go supercritical, it cannot
generate enough radiation and charged particles to create an EMP pulse. Producing a
detonation by colliding the device with a dense man-made object at high altitude would have a
very low probability of success.
3. It is not a weapon and it should be possible to negotiate a treaty in the United Nations that
would allow atomic devices of this type to be placed in high Earth orbit.
dirty option when there is very little warning time. The number and orbits of P.O.N.I.es affects
the response time.
6. By varying the spacing of the device components, the design may be flexible enough to
engage targets with a wide spectrum of physical properties.
7. This design does not need the time or fuel to match velocities with the comet or asteroid, it
just needs to get in the way.
2. By itself, the device cannot become supercritical. If it cannot go supercritical, it cannot
generate enough radiation and charged particles to create an EMP pulse. Producing a
detonation by colliding the device with a dense man-made object at high altitude would have a
very low probability of success.
3. It is not a weapon and it should be possible to negotiate a treaty in the United Nations that
would allow atomic devices of this type to be placed in high Earth orbit.
dirty option when there is very little warning time. The number and orbits of P.O.N.I.es affects
the response time.
6. By varying the spacing of the device components, the design may be flexible enough to
engage targets with a wide spectrum of physical properties.
7. This design does not need the time or fuel to match velocities with the comet or asteroid, it
just needs to get in the way.
| Some of the Advantages of the P.O.N.I |
The target body could have a very low density and may not decelerate the device quickly enough to
get an optimum detonation. To partially compensate for the low deceleration, the device will fire the
neutron initiator at the peak density of the critical mass. This will extract the maximum energy
output for the available compression of the critical mass.
SPLAT (or bug on a windshield), is the big problem with nickel-iron meteors. Impacting a
nickel-iron meteor surface at a high angle from perpendicular would probably be disastrous. A high
angle impact would act like a cheese grater and smear the device across the surface.
Since the target body composition and velocity can have a wide range in values the impact design
needs to be easily adapted to function correctly under most of the conditions that it may encounter.
A conceptually simple method for it to adapt is to adjust the spacing between elements during flight.
A lightweight external framework (not shown) with mechanical means for adjusting the spacing of
the elements might suffice. During powered acceleration or course corrections it would remain in
its smaller and more dimensionally stable form. The smaller form has less likelihood of generating
structural oscillations. The structural oscillations can create significant control and navigation
problems.
get an optimum detonation. To partially compensate for the low deceleration, the device will fire the
neutron initiator at the peak density of the critical mass. This will extract the maximum energy
output for the available compression of the critical mass.
SPLAT (or bug on a windshield), is the big problem with nickel-iron meteors. Impacting a
nickel-iron meteor surface at a high angle from perpendicular would probably be disastrous. A high
angle impact would act like a cheese grater and smear the device across the surface.
Since the target body composition and velocity can have a wide range in values the impact design
needs to be easily adapted to function correctly under most of the conditions that it may encounter.
A conceptually simple method for it to adapt is to adjust the spacing between elements during flight.
A lightweight external framework (not shown) with mechanical means for adjusting the spacing of
the elements might suffice. During powered acceleration or course corrections it would remain in
its smaller and more dimensionally stable form. The smaller form has less likelihood of generating
structural oscillations. The structural oscillations can create significant control and navigation
problems.
In conventional atomic weapons, the heat created by the chain reaction causes the reaction mass to
expand and the chain reaction to slow down and cease. In an impact driven device, the heating
problem can be more acute. The amount of energy created by colliding with an asteroid at high
speed can easily exceed the energy needed to vaporize the critical mass.
The device must detonate before the impact energy has vaporized the device. Assembly of the
device must begin before the device has made impact. The assembly process begins when the
Cushion Generator impacts the asteroid surface. The P.O.N.I design uses a ring or coil of easily
vaporized material to create a plasma or gas plume to force the sub-critical core into the sub-critical
shell. Alternately an explosive charge could decelerate the sub-critical core into the sub-critical shell
to complete the critical mass.
expand and the chain reaction to slow down and cease. In an impact driven device, the heating
problem can be more acute. The amount of energy created by colliding with an asteroid at high
speed can easily exceed the energy needed to vaporize the critical mass.
The device must detonate before the impact energy has vaporized the device. Assembly of the
device must begin before the device has made impact. The assembly process begins when the
Cushion Generator impacts the asteroid surface. The P.O.N.I design uses a ring or coil of easily
vaporized material to create a plasma or gas plume to force the sub-critical core into the sub-critical
shell. Alternately an explosive charge could decelerate the sub-critical core into the sub-critical shell
to complete the critical mass.
begin the chain reaction. It may be technically possible to measure the density of the critical mass
during compression and trigger the neutron pulse tube at peak density.
A high output X-Ray source can bombard the critical assembly. As the density increases so will the
reflection.(compensating for impact deformation) If possible the circuitry should trigger the neutron
source either at a particular density or at its peak density which ever occurs first. If the critical
mass does not achieve its target density the neutron source will at least fire at the critical masses
maximum density. This will allow us to get as much energy out of the device as possible. At least
their may be some yield and the device won’t be a total loss.
during compression and trigger the neutron pulse tube at peak density.
A high output X-Ray source can bombard the critical assembly. As the density increases so will the
reflection.(compensating for impact deformation) If possible the circuitry should trigger the neutron
source either at a particular density or at its peak density which ever occurs first. If the critical
mass does not achieve its target density the neutron source will at least fire at the critical masses
maximum density. This will allow us to get as much energy out of the device as possible. At least
their may be some yield and the device won’t be a total loss.
In the implosion design, the compression forces come from all directions. In the gun design, the
compression originates from the core mass being decelerated into the target shell. This impact
design appears to have more similarities to the gun design. A significant difference from the
operation of the gun design is the deformation of the barrel and the target shell equivalent by the
impact. Optimally the critical core and shell of the critical mass have come together before impact
so that they are in proper contact and correctly meshed. The compression of the device will start
from the leading edge and move back along its line of travel.
When the critical mass is just about to hit its peak density a neutron flux is triggered to begin the
chain reaction. Some mass will still be driving in from behind while plasma and gas pressures from
the wall should maintain radial containment for the microsecond that the chain reaction requires.
compression originates from the core mass being decelerated into the target shell. This impact
design appears to have more similarities to the gun design. A significant difference from the
operation of the gun design is the deformation of the barrel and the target shell equivalent by the
impact. Optimally the critical core and shell of the critical mass have come together before impact
so that they are in proper contact and correctly meshed. The compression of the device will start
from the leading edge and move back along its line of travel.
When the critical mass is just about to hit its peak density a neutron flux is triggered to begin the
chain reaction. Some mass will still be driving in from behind while plasma and gas pressures from
the wall should maintain radial containment for the microsecond that the chain reaction requires.
This is a solution to a political problem, not a technical one.
The P.O.N.I. is a concept for nuclear explosive that would be politically acceptable to place into
Earth orbit for asteroid defense. The P.O.N.I is a nuclear explosive that is inferior to many of the
existing nuclear weapons. Orbiting these weapon designs would be an act of extreme provocation
and could be considered a de facto declaration of war. You may have started a war, or at the very
least you have broken the Outer Space Treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.
The P.O.N.I design allows the placement of atomic explosives that cannot be used as a weapon.
This would include both generating an Electromagnetic Pulse or a surface detonation. Since it is not
a weapon, it could be placed in high Earth orbit to counter any asteroid or comet threat. High Earth
orbit will make it easier for the device to reach escape velocity and intercept the asteroid at a much
greater and safer distance. The farther away the intercept is made the less likely the Earth will be
struck by the debris.
The P.O.N.I. is a concept for nuclear explosive that would be politically acceptable to place into
Earth orbit for asteroid defense. The P.O.N.I is a nuclear explosive that is inferior to many of the
existing nuclear weapons. Orbiting these weapon designs would be an act of extreme provocation
and could be considered a de facto declaration of war. You may have started a war, or at the very
least you have broken the Outer Space Treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.
The P.O.N.I design allows the placement of atomic explosives that cannot be used as a weapon.
This would include both generating an Electromagnetic Pulse or a surface detonation. Since it is not
a weapon, it could be placed in high Earth orbit to counter any asteroid or comet threat. High Earth
orbit will make it easier for the device to reach escape velocity and intercept the asteroid at a much
greater and safer distance. The farther away the intercept is made the less likely the Earth will be
struck by the debris.
| Mechanism for Compressing the Critical Mass |
| Neutron Source or Initiator |
| Depleting Impact Energy |
| Target Body Characteristics |
The critical mass is separated into two parts, the core and shell to prevent any chance of a but not a
nuclear explosion. The energy released by the assembled critical core is lethal (at close range
<100meters), and the critical masses will be damaged or destroyed by the energy released.
For optimum energy production, the two critical masses should be rapidly brought together and
then compressed to form a super-critical mass. The chain reaction proceeds quickly enough in a
supercritical mass that a massive amount of energy is released before the super-critical mass
expands from thermal energy and the reaction ceases.
Partially surrounding the two components of the critical mass are the neutron reflecting,
compression and containment shells. After core assembly the containment shells will completely
surround the critical mass.
The containment and compression shells interlock to seal, contain, and compress the supercritical
core during the period of maximum deceleration. The containment and compression shells would
usually be made from U-238 and will act to reflect escaping neutrons back toward the critical mass.
A difficult and common problem in atomic explosives is compressing and containing the
super-critical mass. It would be desirable that the design be a passive device without any
explosives or detonators. For greater flexibility, the trailing critical mass could have some
explosives to minimize the period of time when the masses are close enough to be critical but
the compression shells are still too far apart to interlock.
The assembly period is also a window of vulnerability during which a premature chain reaction
may be initiated by a stray or naturally occurring neutron. There may also be poorly
understood impact phenomena that could generate significant neutrons or radiation that would
complicate the design.
nuclear explosion. The energy released by the assembled critical core is lethal (at close range
<100meters), and the critical masses will be damaged or destroyed by the energy released.
For optimum energy production, the two critical masses should be rapidly brought together and
then compressed to form a super-critical mass. The chain reaction proceeds quickly enough in a
supercritical mass that a massive amount of energy is released before the super-critical mass
expands from thermal energy and the reaction ceases.
Partially surrounding the two components of the critical mass are the neutron reflecting,
compression and containment shells. After core assembly the containment shells will completely
surround the critical mass.
The containment and compression shells interlock to seal, contain, and compress the supercritical
core during the period of maximum deceleration. The containment and compression shells would
usually be made from U-238 and will act to reflect escaping neutrons back toward the critical mass.
A difficult and common problem in atomic explosives is compressing and containing the
super-critical mass. It would be desirable that the design be a passive device without any
explosives or detonators. For greater flexibility, the trailing critical mass could have some
explosives to minimize the period of time when the masses are close enough to be critical but
the compression shells are still too far apart to interlock.
The assembly period is also a window of vulnerability during which a premature chain reaction
may be initiated by a stray or naturally occurring neutron. There may also be poorly
understood impact phenomena that could generate significant neutrons or radiation that would
complicate the design.
| Containing the Critical Masses With the Neutron Reflective Containment and Compression Shells |
References:
A source for much of the information given in this article comes from the Nuclear Weapons
Frequently Asked Questions by Carey Sublette http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/. The
information passes my reasonableness test.
A source for much of the information given in this article comes from the Nuclear Weapons
Frequently Asked Questions by Carey Sublette http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/. The
information passes my reasonableness test.
author (LOUIS P. QUINN) and document name (Planetary Orbiting Nuclear Interceptor) is
clearly preserved. I would prefer that the user also include the URL of the source.
clearly preserved. I would prefer that the user also include the URL of the source.