Question for Duncan Campbell re: Word-Spotting Capabilities

[Paul Leyland]

> You give examples of things which defy the laws of physics.  The
> only way anyone has conceived of creating coherent x-rays is through
> a nuclear explosion, which is hard to imagine as a hand held weapon.

Not true.   There are some nuclei which have very long-lived high-energy
states, the ideal condition for forming a laser.  A recent article in New
Scientist covered this very topic and reported on experiments which
demonstrated stimulated emission of X and gamma rays.

> Similarly, a critical mass of uranium is required for fission, which
> is more than would fit into a bullet.  Those are problems of physics,
> not engineering.  Those devices are in the realm of science fiction. 

Also not true.  Who said a nuclear bullet had to be made of uranium,?  An
isotope of californium --- I forget which, 242 perhaps? --- undergoes a
fission chain reaction when compressed.  The minimum amount needed is of the
order of a gram.  In this case it is very much a matter of engineering ---
producing enough Cf at a reasonable cost and keeping it safe until it is
needed

Off topic perhaps, but I couldn't let this one past.


Paul