As if the threat of nuclear conflict on Earth were not enough, China appears to be preparing for a new technological leap: particle beams from space. Particle beams, or beams of particles, have been the "Holy Grail" of space weapons for decades. The idea seems simple: a powerful energy "projectile" that could neutralize an enemy satellite in seconds. The practice, however, proved much more difficult, mainly due to the issue of energy, as reported by the newspaper South China Morning Post. For such a weapon to work, it requires an energy supply with several megawatts of power and microsecond precision, a combination that was previously considered impossible. Engineers had to choose: either power or precision. Systems that could deliver enormous power were cumbersome, while those with high precision could not "withstand the current."
The Chinese discovery
Now, however, Chinese scientists claim to have found the solution to this decades-old enigma.
In a study published in the journal Advanced Small Satellite Technology, a team led by Su Zhenhua of DFH Satellite presented a prototype power system that combines both features: enormous power and absolute control. According to the published data, the device produced 2.6 megawatts of pulsed power with a synchronization accuracy of 0.63 microseconds. "Existing pulsed power sources usually deliver less than 1 megawatt and have control accuracy worse than 1 millisecond," noted Su's research team. As the SCMP writes, the scientists stressed that such devices require immense instantaneous energy, since "systems such as electromagnetic warfare simulators or particle beams require extremely high power in minimal time." The new prototype, they added, "solves the problems of insufficient power supply and low control accuracy."
Redesign from scratch
Instead of relying on exotic materials or experimental technologies, Chinese engineers redesigned the entire system from the ground up, from the solar capacitors to the extremely precise discharge mechanism. The result was a network of 36 power units that are activated with a time difference of just 630 nanoseconds, producing 2.59 MW of clean pulsed power in the form of a "square wave." This system, they emphasize, can be used in particle accelerators, lasers, or in other, theoretically peaceful, applications.
From research to the "space race"
Although the official publication emphasizes the peaceful uses of the technology, such as laser communications, ion engines, and radars, the timing does not go unnoticed. With the United States expanding its Starlink and Starshield programs, China's increased focus on space power systems also appears to have a strategic dimension, an attempt to remain competitive in the new space arms race. Whether the Chinese system can withstand the extreme conditions of space—radiation, vacuum, thermal changes—remains unknown. For now, this latest Chinese discovery seems more like an "impressive PowerPoint presentation" than a "ready-made Death Star."
www.bankingnews.gr
Σχόλια αναγνωστών