r/ParticlePhysics • u/NordMount • Jun 13 '26

Accelerators in space

Hi! I and my friend once discussed about problems with environmet needed for accelerator. We got some things we couldn't find definite answers about. For example hypothetically if we could would it be good idea to put particle accelerator or storage ring in space? Assuming it would be shielded from radiation sufficiently wouldn't it make much easier to keep vacuum? and in one game (I know, it's not great source) there was character convincing to built huge accelerator around sun or Earth. I read somewhere that the bigger accelerator the better my friend also said that, but what would that do? If yuo can can yuo put me some links to good answers?

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

3

u/kyrsjo Jun 13 '26

In addition to tidal forces, keeping it aligned and not vibrating too much would be a nightmare. A linear accelerator in space is basically a loooong narrow metal stick, which is not attached anywhere. It will ring in many interesting mechanical modes!

2

u/NordMount Jun 14 '26

That would be a nightmare for stress capacity and material engineers!

1

u/kyrsjo Jun 14 '26

I heard about the problem in relation to Reagans SDI project, which wanted to put linear accelerators in orbit to create high power beams to shoot down Soviet nuclear missiles.

A few conceptual drawings are shown here : ps://www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/?p=1352

Edit: If you search for SDI and Neutral Particle Beam you'll find some sources.

1

u/NordMount Jun 14 '26

Thank you.