Does a nuclear damper affect a fusion power plant?
As I understand the theory of operation (per classic Traveller) they either enhance or suppress the strong nuclear force to point that (relatively) unstable isotopes decay much faster or slower (the latter preventing a chain reaction).
I presume that the force is not suppressed to the point that normally stable elements decay rapidly, otherwise any material could be turned into a nuclear weapon.
However, a fusion reaction does not rely on the decay of nuclei, but instead the collision of multiple nuclei under conditions that rearrange them. And that such rearrangement can occur over an immense range of conditions.
Given that, I believe that a nuclear damper would have little effect on a fusion power plant - the field would raise or lower the threshold for nuclei to fuse by a small amount. But I would expect the power plant controls to compensate the reactor conditions (fuel temperature, pressure, and flow/density) accordingly to maintain stable operation.
Conversely, if a fusion power plant has sufficient control authority to remain stable under the influence of a nuclear damper, it likely has sufficient authority that if the controls were changed to promote instability (i.e. the safeties removed or intentionally eliminated to turn the power plant into an explosive) a nuclear damper could not prevent it.
(If not, then a nuclear damper can also be used to shut off a fusion power plant.)
Note that the magnitude of a fusion plant explosion could vary tremendously, depending on exactly how it operates, or more specifically how much fuel can be brought to fusion conditions at one time:
Some of the most likely technologies currently available in fact do not "control" the fusion event. They cause the fuel explode, but on such a small scale that it is entirely contained within the plant. On the other extreme is a supernova, in which a vast amount of material is brought to fusion conditions at the same time.
Does the canon, or any published work, explicitly state whether nuclear dampers affect fusion power plants or explosives?
Does any describe the magnitude of explosion resulting from a fusion power plant explosion?
Does any describe distinguishing features of a fusion power plant that make it detectable?
Does any describe required safety protocols or features on fusion power plants (in the third Imperium), or how readily they can be defeated?
As you can likely tell, my fundamental question is: how can fusion power plants be used to power most ships and vehicles and cities without creating a huge safety issue?
Pardon me if this has been rehashed somewhere already, but my search of the Traveller forums for "nuclear damper" yielded only one post specifically about their function, and that was really a MGT rules question.
If it has been covered, please just provide a reference.
I am also aware of the the article in Signs and Portents 72, but I don;t believe it addressed my specific questions.
As I understand the theory of operation (per classic Traveller) they either enhance or suppress the strong nuclear force to point that (relatively) unstable isotopes decay much faster or slower (the latter preventing a chain reaction).
I presume that the force is not suppressed to the point that normally stable elements decay rapidly, otherwise any material could be turned into a nuclear weapon.
However, a fusion reaction does not rely on the decay of nuclei, but instead the collision of multiple nuclei under conditions that rearrange them. And that such rearrangement can occur over an immense range of conditions.
Given that, I believe that a nuclear damper would have little effect on a fusion power plant - the field would raise or lower the threshold for nuclei to fuse by a small amount. But I would expect the power plant controls to compensate the reactor conditions (fuel temperature, pressure, and flow/density) accordingly to maintain stable operation.
Conversely, if a fusion power plant has sufficient control authority to remain stable under the influence of a nuclear damper, it likely has sufficient authority that if the controls were changed to promote instability (i.e. the safeties removed or intentionally eliminated to turn the power plant into an explosive) a nuclear damper could not prevent it.
(If not, then a nuclear damper can also be used to shut off a fusion power plant.)
Note that the magnitude of a fusion plant explosion could vary tremendously, depending on exactly how it operates, or more specifically how much fuel can be brought to fusion conditions at one time:
Some of the most likely technologies currently available in fact do not "control" the fusion event. They cause the fuel explode, but on such a small scale that it is entirely contained within the plant. On the other extreme is a supernova, in which a vast amount of material is brought to fusion conditions at the same time.
Does the canon, or any published work, explicitly state whether nuclear dampers affect fusion power plants or explosives?
Does any describe the magnitude of explosion resulting from a fusion power plant explosion?
Does any describe distinguishing features of a fusion power plant that make it detectable?
Does any describe required safety protocols or features on fusion power plants (in the third Imperium), or how readily they can be defeated?
As you can likely tell, my fundamental question is: how can fusion power plants be used to power most ships and vehicles and cities without creating a huge safety issue?
Pardon me if this has been rehashed somewhere already, but my search of the Traveller forums for "nuclear damper" yielded only one post specifically about their function, and that was really a MGT rules question.
If it has been covered, please just provide a reference.
I am also aware of the the article in Signs and Portents 72, but I don;t believe it addressed my specific questions.
