How to build a Dyson swarm and why you need it
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For anyone interested in science fiction, the Dyson sphere can act almost as a Holy Grail. More than half a century ago by the famous physicist Freeman Dyson first suggested, and then popularized the idea that highly advanced Hyper-technological civilization will be able to mine as much useful energy as it is able to produce a star – just to build a special design around the sun.
The Original concept of this design Dyson suggested that in the context of the desire to find extraterrestrial life. He suggested that humanity must find a new star system and try to see in them signs of the presence of such space megastruktur.
"This was originally a dark object would be radiating as much energy as the star behind it. But this radiation is in the far infrared spectrum with wavelength of about 10 microns. I propose to conduct a targeted search of such sources of infrared radiation, either alone or together with the search for artificial sources of radio signals. It would have been preferable to search for and study of objects 5-th or 6-th magnitude...", — once wrote Dyson.
His readers a physicist also inspired by the observation that the inhabitants of the Earth once, reaching outstanding technological heights, too, can build your own megastructure Dyson.
"It's possible. For several thousand years since the beginning of the industrial era any reasonable civilization can reach the level of development and life within the artificial biosphere, are situated around the home star of a system".
Of Course such sverkhmasshtabno the construction is still not feasible, but to start planning it's never too early! And Dr. Stuart Armstrong, a researcher from the Institute for the future of humanity at Oxford University, just decided to do it, imagine how humanity will one day be able to build the so-called Roy Dyson (not to be confused with the "field") around the Sun.
In contrast to the Dyson sphere, though hollow construction, but with elements with solid sheathing, Roy Dyson can represent a modular design consisting of multiple residential units, satellites and solar collectors are integrated into the network in the form of a sphere around the star. The generated energy would be wirelessly be transmitted between modules of the swarm itself and the Ground. Alternatively, you can use millions of mirrors that focus the Sun's energy on a smaller number of collection stations.
So how is it possible to implement this great idea? Speaking at a lecture in 2012, Armstrong offered a very abstract version. First, the whole construction process will run offline, that is, robots having independent replacement. Broke one robot, a few others took it and made new from old parts. Like an army of mechanical workers will also need to send on mercury, which will extract the minerals on the basis of which will create the necessary construction materials. According to the scientist, is useful in terms of production is only half of this planet. For approximately 50 years the robots will multiply and build a variety of modules and satellites, and then the resources of mercury are likely to be depleted.
Of Course one planet in the Solar system we then likely lose, but if we miss this scorched hell? Without a gram of regret, he even titled one presented on the lecture slides as: "Sorry, mercury, it's nothing personal...".
If you are very skeptical about vysheozvuchennoy plan – good. It must be because we don't even come close to this level of technological capabilities. However, the dream was not forbidden.
And yet, Armstrong presented the argument that the construction of a Dyson swarm is a completely achievable task. It indicates that even if in nature there are many things that in principle should not exist, and reason to believe that humanity can never reach such a technological level we are not. As the two essential technologies that will allow you to get closer to the possibility of creating a swarm of Dyson, he cited artificial intelligence and technology cell replication. With these two fundamental tools, the only thing we need is appropriate technology automation and advanced 3D printing technology – two areas in which humanity is already showing some success.
"the Scale of construction in itself is not a factor acting as an insurmountable barrier. To disassemble the planet, stone by stone, is the same as to disassemble the asteroid. Just have to do it longer, significantly longer," — commented Armstrong.
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