Re: Bad News from the Physics Frontier

Orcinus orca [email removed] writes:
> 4 H  -  1 He  =  0.02916 grams/mole of matter converted to energy
> .....
> I think we have the reverse problem!  This process is too efficient!

It's still wrong anyway.  You can't fuse 4 H (=4 protons) into a He (=2 protons
+ 2 neutrons); you need two deuteriums (an isotope of hydrogen with a proton
and a neutron) or an ordinary hydrogen and a Tritium (=proton + 2 neutrons).
You could also have some exotic reactions with 3 atoms, or perhaps involving
lithium.

I always assumed Trav refining plants were heavy hydrogen isotope extractors,
although why having too much ordinary hydrogen in the fuel should cause
misjumps is a mystery.

Unfortunately I don't have a molar weight for deuterium handy.
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  Tim Day        [email removed]       | I honestly think you should sit down
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