'star wars' like force fields- fact or fiction
Published on March 27, 2015
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Photo via YouTube/Patent Yogi/Lucasfilm
A new patent granted Boeing Corp. is looking a lot like science fiction. Just like the glowing energy shields seen protecting troops, machines and even spacecraft in Star Wars, the design named "Method and system for shock wave attenuation via electromagnetic arc", uses energy to deflect potential damage.
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Designed to protect targets, such as a vehicle or building from the damaging effects of shock waves from a nearby impact, the system is not designed to prevent direct impact from shells or shrapnel.
This product is called a shock wave attenuation system, which consists of a sensor capable of detecting a shock wave generating explosion and an arc generator that receives the signal from the sensor to ionize a small region, producing a plasma field between the target and the explosion using lasers, electricity and microwaves.
This small plasma field would differ from the surrounding environment in temperature, density and/or composition and would provide a buffer between the target and the explosion that would hinder the shock waves from reaching and damaging the target.
Because this system heats and ionizes the air, it is unsuitable for enveloping a target and being held in place for any length of time. That kind of force field is technically feasible.
Physics students last year determined that an electromagnetic field could by used to hold a plasma shield in place, but it would likely also deflect light, leaving anyone inside blind.
These force fields will detect nearby explosions, and using lasers, ionize the air between the protected area and the explosion to block shock waves from causing damage. The system could potentially work with vehicles, buildings, ships and aircraft.
What do you think, are we there yet?
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