EDIT: I'm getting bullshit downvotes from people who clearly won't read the paper and don't understand the proposed detonation model. One need not have grams of antimatter to trigger a H-H fusion detonation. A relatively small amount of antimatter is needed to trigger initial fusion of a hydrogen target, which by cascade can be used to detonate additional hydrogen. This removes the fission trigger and allows for very small fusion weapons with relatively low yields. For example, a device the size of a hand grenade with tons of TNT equivalent output - like a truck bomb in your hand. Or a rifle sized X-Ray laser is another proposed weapon.

Read the study. This technology is feasible.

[–] anton@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (6 children)

The paper you linked says "1 microgram is sufficient to trigger one thermonuclear weapon" which corresponds to 6×10^17.
This makes your "few thousand" of by 14 orders of magnitude instead of 15, I bet you feel vindicated now.

For example, a device the size of a hand grenade with tons of TNT equivalent output

A man portable nuke has existed since the 60's so it wouldn't be a game changer.

[–] HalfAFrisbee@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

LMAO, the little baby down voted you.

load more comments (5 replies)

load more comments (6 replies)