From: Eugene Leitl (Eugene.Leitl@lrz.uni-muenchen.de)
Date: Tue Dec 24 1996 - 02:32:48 MST
On Tue, 24 Dec 1996 graham.clarke@dse.com.au wrote:
> [...]
>
> But if you nuke Jupiter (deeply enough to get in contact with highly
> pressurized hydrogen), then you trigger a vast nuclear fusion reaction
> and SUDDENLY change the balance of forces holding the planet together.
> In short, a very big bang. The remnant Jupiter less than half size.
Yes, that's the intuitive idea. Of course, the metallic hydrogen layer is
_very_ far down, where it is _very_ hot &c&c, but one ought calculate this.
After the result has cooled off, it should be more suitable for mining,
and, also, slightly enrichened in the heavier-than-hydrogen elements ;)
> A hydrogen bomb on Earth terminates because it runs out of hydrogen,
> (even deep under the sea, which of course contains hydrogen).
The nuclei are packed not dense enough, further being diluted by oxygen.
> But with Jupiters' vast dense hydrogen supply, and gravity holding
> it in place ready for ignition/fusion, it's just one big big BOMB.
> Perhaps big enough to vaporize the other planets or at least their
> surface features. Don't bother making a will. :-{
It should be certainly bright, and it might damage the Jovian satellite
system, but us? The more reason to calculate this.
> Interesting idea 'Gene. You're not a pyromaniac by any chance?? ;-)
I freely admit that my childhood _did_ contain some bombs/rocketry...
> Regards,
> Graham
>
> ... First there was Hiroshima '45, then Chernobyl '86, then Jupiter 2030!
>
>
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