Re: Space Solar Power - A possible way of Reducing Rectenna size?



On 27 Jan, 18:24, Ian Stirling <r...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Alex Terrell <alexterr...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:<huge snip>

But the focus is physically limited by the size of the transmitter.
That's why a standard (reference design) powersat is not dangerous,
unless you get about 30 of them aiming at the same point.

My suggestion of a larger powersat and larger transmitter makes
something which by itself could be used as a poor weapon. In
conjunction with others, it could be a dangerous weapon. But it
certainly can't do 90MW/m2.The focus _of_one_powersat_ is limited by the size of the transmitter.

The focus of a group of powersats is limited by the size of the group.

Correct

Though the amount of power you put on the focal spot won't be 100% of
the output.

This is an interesting one. In fact 100% of the energy focussed by a
dish does not come at the principal maximum. There is a process call
apodization which is used to reduce the maxima other than the first.
In fact a sprse attena with careful phase shifting can get the vast
majority of the energy into the first maximum.

Yes it would be an extremely powerful weapon - potentially. Some means
would have to be deviesd of making the project international. The
software could contain safeguards that would prevent misuse. Aircraft
are now being euiped with autopilots which would physically prevent
them from being flown into tall buildings. Perhaps something similar
could be attempted here.

- Ian Parker

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