New York Times on the Web Forums Science

Missile Defense

Nazi engineer and Disney space advisor Wernher Von Braun helped give us rocket science. Today, the legacy of military aeronautics has many manifestations from SDI to advanced ballistic missiles. Now there is a controversial push for a new missile defense system. What will be the role of missile defense in the new geopolitical climate and in the new scientific era?

rshowalter - 10:30am Jan 25, 2001 EST (#596 of 637)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

dirac why don't you identify yourself, in a verifiable way. I have a professional engineers ticket, and if you feel that you have reason to go after it, why don't you?

I'd say you're a writer, running malicious, and taking the word of people you happen to want to believe, for whatever reasons. But I'm willing to be convinced.

Give me your name, and your credentials, and we can discuss whether you can "eat me alive as an engineer." I know many engineers of considerable rank, and I defer to them in some ways, but on matters of technical right or wrong, by and large, the facts, in open engineering discussion, speak for themselves, and the people with rank got there, in part, because they know that especially well.

Could I be wrong? Sure. So could you.

Why don't you call me on the telephone?

mhunter20 - 10:45am Jan 25, 2001 EST (#597 of 637)

dirac_10 1/24/01 11:18pm

Getting Maxwell's equations to work on something like that is tough.

I believe that Tesla designed the magnifying transmitter to maximize the hypothetical Zenneck surface wave, a solution to Maxwell's equations first described by Sommerfeld.

mhunter20 - 10:56am Jan 25, 2001 EST (#598 of 637)

Tesla link

What elastic system do you refer to?

Tesla

I mean this: If you pass a current into a circuit with large self-induction, and no radiation takes place, and you have a low resistance, there is no possibility of this energy getting out into space; therefore, the impressed impulses accumulate.

dirac_10 - 06:25pm Jan 25, 2001 EST (#599 of 637)

rshowalter - 10:30am Jan 25, 2001 EST (#596 of 598)

dirac why don't you identify yourself, in a verifiable way.

Because I play with dangerous people on these forums. Not just the safe comfy science section.

I have a professional engineers ticket, and if you feel that you have reason to go after it, why don't you?

Funny that you never talk science. Or engineering. You never ever have pointed out where the problem is in hitting a missle at distance with a laser.

I have given a rather broad range of reasons it would work. Easily availible for critisism on engineering grounds.

I'd say you're a writer,

No, I'm the one that talks about science and engineering. You are the one that talks in generalities, ignores direct questions, and makes personal insults.

running malicious, and taking the word of people you happen to want to believe, for whatever reasons. But I'm willing to be convinced.

Other's opinions? Me? Make a scientific/engineering analysis. Just once.

Give me your name, and your credentials, and we can discuss whether you can "eat me alive as an engineer."

Not likely. You are nieve.

I know many engineers of considerable rank, and I defer to them in some ways, but on matters of technical right or wrong, by and large, the facts, in open engineering discussion, speak for themselves, and the people with rank got there, in part, because they know that especially well.

You seem awfully interested in having me reveal my identity. Now why is that? Why is it that you never ever seem to demonstrate any of that legendary engineering ability on this forum?

Could I be wrong? Sure. So could you.

I'm wrong all the time. I can show you where I have flat out admitted it on these forums. To someone I was arguing with. But you steadfastly refuse to discuss the scientific/engineering aspects of the problem.

Now why is that?

Why don't you call me on the telephone?

See what I mean.

dirac_10 - 11:55pm Jan 25, 2001 EST (#600 of 637)

mhunter20 - 10:45am Jan 25, 2001 EST (#597 of 599)

[Getting Maxwell's equations to work on something like that is tough.]

I believe that Tesla designed the magnifying transmitter to maximize the hypothetical Zenneck surface wave, a solution to Maxwell's equations first described by Sommerfeld.

Heh heh. Well, I never heard of Zenneck waves and you are correct, they are a solution to ole' man Maxwell's equations.

At low frequencies the ground diffracts the low frquency wave to cause it to hug the earth, and since it is essentially confined to two dimensions doesn't suffer the inverse square dissipation of a point source in three dimensions.

And looks like 12 hz seems about right although some useful effect is noticed up to 1 Mhz.

I can see using this as a communication medium, but to transmit power? How does one focus it at a point at a distance. I mean we got a wavelength on the order of the planet earth. Hard to hit something precisely. It's going everywhere. You could get higher order beat frequencies from several transmitters. And/or standing waves. And the mentions of using it to detect surface ships could be the much higher frequencies nearing 1 Mhz where the wavelength is small enough to bounce, or it could be higher frequency harmonics etc bouncing off, that is measured, since the getting it there problem is solved.

But beam power at a distance with one antenna at 12 Mhz, and have it hit one spot to be used, I don't see how.

Perhaps "You know who" will point out how...You know, what I missed.

As for his alledged violation of conservation of mass/energy, looks a lot like a common diode detector. Just charge up a capacitor with a diode using the electromagnetic energy in the air. And yes you can lift a weight with it, but I just don't think there is enough energy around in the air to flatten 2000 sq. km. of trees at once.

But of course, it would be super cool if Tesla did it. I'm rooting for him.

(37 following messages)

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense