"Subsequent re-crystallisation of the molten material will generate intense acoustic signals."
Why would it make any noise?
A Nuclear Probe to Explore Earth’s Interior
21–30 of 67 posts
Re: A Nuclear Probe to Explore Earth’s Interior
#22"transform some of the energy from radioactive decay"
Not so simple. You need a hot source and a cold sink to transform energy. Where's your cold sink? This thing is intended to melt what's around it, and the outside of the probe is not that different in temperature from the inside.
Re: A Nuclear Probe to Explore Earth’s Interior
#23The article also suggests using the probe to analyze the composition of other planets. Is that doable? It seems pretty tough to me to carry on a space ship a nuclear probe hot enough to melt rocks.
If you're going to carry a probe powerful enough to melt rocks on a spaceship, the probe better damn well be nuclear powered. There's no other way to get the energy density to make the launch costs feasible.
I agree that the prob will have to be nuclear powered. What I find risky is to put it on a spaceship.
Re: A Nuclear Probe to Explore Earth’s Interior
#24"transform some of the energy from radioactive decay" Not so simple. You need a hot source and a cold sink to transform energy. Where's your cold sink? This thing is intended to melt what's around it, and the outside of the probe is not that different in temperature from the inside.
Erm. If it's melting the rock around it, then the rock is your cold sink. By the time the temperature of the rock catches up with the probe, it's already molten anyway.
Re: A Nuclear Probe to Explore Earth’s Interior
#25why cant we dispose our nuclear waste in this way?
Re: A Nuclear Probe to Explore Earth’s Interior
#26why cant we dispose our nuclear waste in this way?
I don't think most nuclear waste gets nearly hot enough.
Re: A Nuclear Probe to Explore Earth’s Interior
#27"transform some of the energy from radioactive decay" Not so simple. You need a hot source and a cold sink to transform energy. Where's your cold sink? This thing is intended to melt what's around it, and the outside of the probe is not that different in temperature from the inside.
You need a hot source and a cold sink to transform energy.
Only if it's thermal energy. Given the small amount of power needed, they could easily use a betavoltaic generator.
Re: A Nuclear Probe to Explore Earth’s Interior
#28Brilliant idea!
Re: A Nuclear Probe to Explore Earth’s Interior
#29Re: A Nuclear Probe to Explore Earth’s Interior
#30"transform some of the energy from radioactive decay" Not so simple. You need a hot source and a cold sink to transform energy. Where's your cold sink? This thing is intended to melt what's around it, and the outside of the probe is not that different in temperature from the inside.
Co-60 decays via beta (and then gamma) decay. It's a straightforward matter to convert the beta decay into electrical power.