Guess We'll have to Stop making fun of Scotty in STIV

[Mark CMG]

From what I understand, the physics of a "plasma sword" are doable (not true lightsabers, but a device that behaves like movie lightsabers) but the power requirements are by current standards ridiculous for the purpose that such a device would serve.

They could use it to cut sheets of that pesky transparent aluminum.



(And maybe for Halloween costumes and such.)

 

[RangerWickett]

They could use it to cut sheets of that pesky transparent aluminum.



(And maybe for Halloween costumes and such.)

Quoted, because a man this cool needs to be quoted.

 

[Steverooo]

I love it when most modern everyday techs are inspired by Trek.

Although I'm waiting for someone to prove me wrong by developing a sword made of out plasma and light. (Yeah, right. )

I would rather see the Ultrasonic Sword developed. I think we could do it, today, if we really tried. It would be basically invisible, nasty, and could double as a musical instrument.

It seems to be useless, in vacuum, until you Vacc Suit over, right on top of the guy!

 

[JimAde]

Well I haven't seen a blade of pure sound, but I have a vibroblade at home.

Actually it's an exotic weapon with three blades and the power source in the handle.

Yes, it's my razor. Somebody at Gillette reads too many GURPS supplements.

 

[Ranger REG]

I would rather see the Ultrasonic Sword developed. I think we could do it, today, if we really tried.

Considering we have them toothbrushes and ... battery-operated marital aid* ... it should be doable.

* It's called a portable massager, children.

 

[Bront]

I love it when most modern everyday techs are inspired by Trek.

There are lots of things inspired by Sci-Fi movies and writings. The computer interface used in The Minority Report is being developed based solely of it being seein in the movie. A holographic interface that adjusts based on hand positions using gloves.

 

[buzzard]

Depending upon the weight of this material, I can think of many commercial uses for it.

I wonder what the thermal properties are like.

I hate to rain on parades, but this is no more transparent aluminum than glass is transparent silicon. It's a ceramic. It is likely used in a composite structure, but is still probably pretty brittle. It is absolutely not a metal. Though considering the properties of actual aluminum, this is the only 'transparent aluminum' you're gonna get (well at least some ceramic). Metals , by their very nature can't be conductive (electrical conductivity makes being transparent kind of impossible).

For thermal properties, I would venture a guess that it was fairly conductive of heat since it can't be porous and transparent. If you have a material with strong bonds, you generally can get good conductivity (most commonly seen ceramics, however, are very porous which is why they conduct heat poorly).

buzzard

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I hate to rain on parades, but this is no more transparent aluminum than glass is transparent silicon. It's a ceramic. It is likely used in a composite structure, but is still probably pretty brittle. It is absolutely not a metal. Though considering the properties of actual aluminum, this is the only 'transparent aluminum' you're gonna get (well at least some ceramic). Metals , by their very nature can't be conductive (electrical conductivity makes being transparent kind of impossible).

For thermal properties, I would venture a guess that it was fairly conductive of heat since it can't be porous and transparent. If you have a material with strong bonds, you generally can get good conductivity (most commonly seen ceramics, however, are very porous which is why they conduct heat poorly).

buzzard

ummm, it can't be that brittle if they are using it for battlefield armor. This, bonded to a layer of glass and a polymer, is capable of stopping multiple .50 caliber bullets with a lower thickness and weight than conventional bulletproof glass. It addition it says it is extremely difficult to scratch.

 

[tecnowraith]

Data Crystals is almost here as well so you see the linear chips in use very soon.

 

[buzzard]

ummm, it can't be that brittle if they are using it for battlefield armor. This, bonded to a layer of glass and a polymer, is capable of stopping multiple .50 caliber bullets with a lower thickness and weight than conventional bulletproof glass. It addition it says it is extremely difficult to scratch.

It is a ceramic, by the very nature of that it must be brittle. Now you have to have a perspective what brittle actually means. It means you don't get much yielding before failure. The stuff is undoubtedly quite hard and likely takes a beating to get a crack started, but cracks will go once they start. The thing about composites though, is that they do a great job of allowing different materials to cover the properties of others. I suppose it is possible that the substance is transition stabilized, which can reduce fracture propagation, but I couldn't find any articles back this up. for the moment I'm assuming it's a composite.

Now difficult to scratch is in no way counter to being brittle. Generally in fact, things that are very hard (which means difficult to scratch) are brittle.

buzzard